|
CBJ, otherwise known as The Eternals, teach that an individual
may obtain physical immortality thereby, never experiencing physical
death. Many of you may have watched Day One's report that was aired
on November 29, 1993. After watching the report, I wondered why
anyone would desire physical immortality over spiritual immortality,
or who would desire an eternal physical life with mankind over an
eternal home with God?
It is not my desire to discuss the illogical views which CBJ holds
such as one becoming their own Messiah. Neither is it my aim to
discuss religious eschatological views which vary in certain aspects,
but agree that eternal life is with the Lord. However, I wish to
devote this article to uncovering Biblical teachings regarding eternal
life.
Certainly one may readily see that the Apostle Paul did not desire
to live one minute longer on earth than necessary to accomplish
his ministry. In Philippians 1:21-23 Paul says: "For to me, to live
is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this
will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot
tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to
depart and be with Christ, which is far better." So, we see that
Paul looked forward to death in order to be with Christ, but understood
that it was beneficial, for his ministry, to continue until it be
God's will for him to depart. We also learn from history that Christians,
during and after the apostolic age, looked forward to death. They
viewed death, not as an end, but as a gateway to their "real" home.
Furthermore, they believed that physical life was a temporary abode.
It has been recorded that Christians under persecution during the
third and forth centuries were drug into courts in order to confiscate
their property as penalty for refusal to worship idols. Upon entering
the court, they were asked their address to determine what property
they owned. Many Christians would infuriate the judges by replying
that their home was the New Jerusalem.
Christians learn from the Bible that earth is not to be counted
as a permanent abode, but temporary. We also should look to the
day wherein we shall receive eternal life to forever live with God
and Jesus. The Bible teaches in II Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore
we do not loose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen
are eternal." So, Paul teaches that the physical body (outward man)
and the things of the earth (things seen) are temporary, but the
soul (inward man) and heavenly things (things not seen) are eternal.
Furthermore, Paul teaches that Christians are confident of their
eternal home with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:6-8 says: "Therefore
we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the
body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the
body and to be present with the Lord." Therefore, the Christian's
confidence is not is the vain and unsubstantiated words of mankind,
but in the confidence supplied by God, in faith, that we have an
eternal home in heaven.
God has blessed us with numerous physical blessings in this country.
With all of these things which make life enjoyable and easy, it
is no wonder that some may desire to live in the physical body for
eternity. But, such desires are vain. Solomon, who teaches in Ecclesiastes
that all of God's blessings were created for our use and joy, teaches
that everything of physical life is vain. Therefore, we must structure
our life in order to "fear God and keep His commandments, for this
is the whole duty of man" (Ecc. 12:13). And in so doing, we find
true joy in the physical body as we serve the Lord.
The decision is yours. There is a time coming whereby "we must
all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad" (II Cor. 5:10). And, "it is appointed for men
to die once, but after this the judgement" (Heb. 9:27). Will you
put your faith in man or God? If our faith is in God, we too may
proclaim as Paul; "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all
who have loved His appearing" (II Tim. 4:7-8).
|
