John 17:3 (NIV): Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Eternal life is not primarily a state or a something to be possessed; it is a relationship. Jesus gave a clear definition of eternal life in this prayer, and that definition must suffuse all subsequent usages of the term. Eternal life is not simply life that is eternal; a life that stretches out through all eternity. Eternal life is life IN the eternal. It is to know the Father, the only true God, and being in an ongoing relationship with Him, enabled by the blood of Jesus, and empowered by His Holy Spirit. And it is knowing Jesus, being in an intimate and ongoing relationship with Him.
Many people know ABOUT God – as James pointed out, even the demons know that God exists and that He is the only true God, and they shudder (James 2:19). There is no salvation or eternal life in knowing ABOUT God. Many know ABOUT Jesus, and even believe some true things about Him. But there is no salvation or eternal life in knowing ABOUT Jesus.
The only eternal life is in actually knowing God, truly knowing Jesus, and being known by them; being in relationship with them. That is one reason why Jesus focused so intently on revealing the Father to his disciples, not simply passing on information. And, at the same time, He opened Himself up to relationship with all who would follow Him wholeheartedly.
Jesus pointed out several times how important the relationship aspect of eternal life is. In one of His most memorable word pictures from the Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) “I never knew you” means “I never had a relationship with you.” And those who have no relationship with God and with Jesus, who only know ABOUT them, who go through the motions of relationship without actually being in relationship, will tragically find themselves at the judgment on the outside looking in.
Father, it is stunning to me to think that You, the God of the universe, would even care enough about us poor, insignificant creatures to want to have a relationship with us. And then to go to such pains to reveal Yourself to us to enable that relationship and, in it, eternal life. Help us to never take that for granted. Help us to never let our relationship with You grow cold, to never get so involved in our own stuff that we put You on the back burner of our lives. Help us to keep our relationship with You always hot, always current, always intimate. Amen.