Eternal Live Right Now…

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.

I wonder how many Americans have become aware of John 3:16 while watching a professional football game. There was a decade or so, when a placard bearing the phrase John 3:16 seemed to be ubiquitous in the grandstand of NFL stadiums on game day. It seemed as if every time the network camera swept across the field, there was one of those placards. (I'm sorry if you are not a pro football fan and never saw one of these signs. You are clearly not saved.)

A lot of people know that verse. I wonder how many know the next verse: John 3:17. Or the entire conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus. Or ponder what it really means to be born again.

The gospel of John begins by telling us about the light that Christ brought into the dark world and how that enlightenment was life. Now we watch Nicodemus come out of the darkness and into the glow of Christ's presence with questions on his mind. So I have a question: when does eternal life begin? Is it solely a reward to be received after physical life is over? (Quit over-complicating it, Preacher.)

See you Sunday!

Allen