The concept of eternal life goes beyond mere existence; it is a dynamic reality that believers can perceive and experience both spiritually and naturally. In Understanding Eternal Life- Part 1, we discussed the profound nature of eternal life as it relates to the Triune God and His indwelling in believers. Now, we delve deeper into how eternal life manifests in our lives and how we can sense it through spiritual and natural means.
Spiritual Eyesight
Believers are endowed with spiritual eyesight, an ability that goes beyond natural perception. But what exactly do we see with this spiritual vision? In both the spiritual and natural realms, there must be something tangible that believers can perceive.
In Understanding Eternal Life- Part 1, we likened eternal life to the energy carried by a photon. When a photon strikes the retina, the brain processes it, resulting in sight. Similarly, in the spiritual realm, the “mind of Christ” processes the life carried by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to perceive spiritual realities. But does this perception only occur in the spiritual realm, or can it also manifest in the natural world?
Scripture provides instances where spiritual realities have tangible expressions in the natural world. A prime example is the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:2), where His appearance changed, and His clothes became as bright as light. This light is often referred to as “glory” in the Bible, symbolizing the divine presence. While such occurrences are rare, spiritual eyesight is something every believer possesses as part of their spiritual anatomy (John 3:3, Ephesians 1:18).
With natural eyesight, we can sometimes see the glory of God expressed as light. However, what we perceive in the spiritual realm is often beyond natural comprehension and can only be understood spiritually—Paul refers to these experiences as “inexpressible” (2 Corinthians 12:4).
The Light from Life
But what is the source of this light that we perceive? The Apostle John gives us insight by stating, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4-5). This suggests that life itself emanates light. Jesus frequently referred to Himself as the light of the world (John 8:12). During His transfiguration, this light became visible, emanating from His divine life. However, this light was not always perceptible to those around Him, yet it was ever-present.
John also highlights a crucial aspect of an unsaved or a natural human being- that they tend to resist the light because it exposes our true selves (John 3:20). It is only through God’s grace that our eyes are opened to see Christ for who He truly is. As believers, as we renew our minds, it opens with an ability to see His light(Romans 12:2). An unrenewed mind hinders our understanding of spiritual realities, while a renewed mind allows us to perceive the light of life more clearly.
Our Possession: The Light of Life
Do believers possess this light, or is it unique to Jesus? The answer is yes; believers do have the light of life. The eternal life we have emits light. Therefore, just as Jesus is the light of the world, we too are called to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14).
The mission of Jesus was to bring us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, making us “sons of light” (John 12:36). During His earthly ministry, He was the source of light for His followers. After His ascension, believers received the Holy Spirit, enabling them to become bearers of light through the light of life within them. This transformation makes every believer a new creation and a “son of light” (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 12:36).
John further emphasizes this by stating that eternal life has been “manifested” (1 John 1:2). The Greek word used here, phaneroo, means to make something apparent, known, or evident. Eternal life in us brings the fruit of the Spirit which is mentioned in Gal 5:22-23. This is what Paul means when he says “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16). Think of this as eternal life pouring into our life and we are bearing fruit of the Spirit.
Just as a lamp cannot be hidden, the light of life within us cannot be concealed. If you possess eternal life, you will shine.
Conclusion: Letting the Light Shine
Eternal life is not just an abstract concept but a living reality that can be sensed and seen both spiritually and naturally. In history As believers, we possess the light of life, and this light is meant to shine through us, illuminating the world around us. For example, Smith Wigglesworth, known for his healing ministry and powerful preaching, was often described as having a noticeable “glow” when he was ministering. People who attended his meetings sometimes reported seeing a light around him, especially when miracles were happening. This was interpreted as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence working through him. Our spiritual vision enables us to perceive the divine realities that are often hidden from natural sight. As we continue to renew our minds and grow in our understanding of this eternal life, the light within us will become increasingly evident, blessing those around us and glorifying God.
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