Apart from God and His spiritual provisions,
there can be no indefinite continuance of life. As to living forever,
Jesus said: This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ( John 17:3 )
The
Bible's teachings, examples and doctrines are most practical for modern
man. The righteous principles and high moral standards contained in this
book set it apart and above all other books. Not only does the Bible
answer important questions, it also provides many practical suggestions
which, if followed, will do much to raise our physical and mental
health.
Among the blessings God bestowed on all mankind is the
regenerative power of our physical organisms, the ability our body has
to heal itself when we get wounded. A physician may recommend certain
measures to speed up our recovery, but in reality it is the God given
recuperative powers within our body that accomplish the healing. Hence,
the psalmist David acknowledged that, though he was born imperfect his
Creator was able to sustain him during illness and heal all his
maladies. ( Ps 51:5; 41:1-3; 103:2-4 ) God also restored the bodily
health afflicted on Job. (Job 42:10)
The whole tenor Scriptures,
including the teachings of God's Son is to the effect that the gaining
of understanding of God's purposes, the doing of His will, and the
attaining of salvation to life, are dependent primarily upon the heart. (
1 Sam 16:7; 1 Chron 28:9) The Bible is unique in its ability to
"discern thoughts and intentions of the heart," revealing what the
person really is. ( Heb 4:12-13) As David said to his son Solomon: "Know
the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a
willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the
intent of the thoughts."
The Bible Truth concerning our true God
and Father: Our Father is the "God of truth." ( Ps 31:5 ) He is faithful
in all his dealings. His promises are sure, for he cannot lie. ( Num
23:19; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 89:35; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:17-18 ) He judges
according to truth, that is, according to the way things really are, and
not on the basis of outward appearance. ( Rom 2:2 compare John 7:24 )
God
enlightens the 'eyes of the heart of His servants to the hope ahead. (
Eph 1:18 ) Thereby they see the hope in its full breadth and depth and
love it. ( Eph 3:16-19 ) As to the hope of God's promise, that He would
bring about a "new heavens" and a "new earth" and said the former things
would not 'come up into the heart,' to cause distress, hurt or sorrow. (
Isa 65:17-19 ) This is the true way of life that Christian long hoped
for, peace love and security.
It is evident throughout the Bible
that the hope of servants of God has been to receive everlasting life at
God's hands. This hope has encouraged them in maintaining faithfulness.
And it is not a selfish hope. The apostle writes: Without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He
is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ( Heb
11:6 ) He is that kind of God; it is one of the qualities for which He
deserves full devotion from His creatures.
Throughout the Holy
Bible we find that there are great benefits for the righteous. God loves
the righteous and cares for them. David wrote: I have been young, and
now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his
descendants begging for bread. ( Ps 37:25 ) Solomon said: The Lord will
not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He cast away the desire of
the wicked. ( Prov 10:3 ) The Bible also said God is to judge the
inhabited earth in righteousness by Jesus Christ, and will create "new
heavens and a new earth" in which righteousness is to dwell. ( Acts
!7:31; 2 Pet 3:13 )
Jesus' parable at Luke 19:11-27 shows what the
'coming of the Kingdom' means: its coming to execute judgment,
destroying all opposes, and bringing relief and reward to those hoping
in it. ( Compare Rev 16:14-16; 19:11-21.) The following express "let
your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth," thus refers
primarily, not to the doing of God's will by us, but, rather, to God's
own acting in fulfillment of His will toward the earth and its
inhabitants, manifesting His power to realize the declared purpose. The
one praying, of course, also expresses thereby his own preference for,
and submission to, that will. ( Compare Matt 26:39 ) The request for
daily bread, forgiveness, protection against temptation and deliverance
from the wicked one, all relate to the petitioner's desire to continue
living in God's favor. He expresses this desire for all others of like
faith, not for himself alone. ( Compare Colossians 4:12)
To get
the true understanding of the Bible for the Christian way of life, we
must pray to God: "Make me understand, that I may observe your law and
that I may keep it with my whole heart that I may keep living." ( Ps
119:34, 73, 144 ) This is the right motive with regard to a way of life
that will lead to eternal life. The apostle prayed for the Colossian
Christians that they might be "filled with knowledge of God's will in
all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you may walk worthy of the
Lord." ( Col 1:9-10)
As to prayer for the Christian way of life,
Jesus said to "keep on asking, seeking and knocking,' not giving up. (
Luke 11:5-10 ) Jesus told his disciples: "If two of you on earth agree
concerning anything of importance that they should request, it will take
place for them due to my Father in heaven." ( Matt 18:19 ) John states:
The confidence that we should have toward Him, "that no matter what it
is that we ask according to His will , He hears us." So let us ask in
prayer with confidence for the true understanding of the Bible teachings
for the way of life that will guide us into everlasting life.
Everlasting
life is a good reason for why we should make it our interest to read
the Holy Bible, not only should we read the Bible, but we should make it
our main interest to do a Bible study on a daily bases. For eventual
possession of the earth is promised to the righteous; the wicked are to
be cleared out of the earth as a "ransom" for the righteous, for as long
as the wicked are in control the righteous cannot have peace. And the
possessions of the wicked will go to the righteous, as the proverb
states: The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." ( Prov
13:22; 21:18 )
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