John 17:3 (NASB)
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

In John chapter 17, the high priestly prayer of Jesus, Jesus gives us a definition of eternal life that is probably different than how we normally think of it. Most of us, when we are asked “what is eternal life?”, we are more likely to respond to that question saying that eternal life is being in heaven with God.

But Jesus tells us that eternal life begins when we know God through Jesus Christ. Eternal life begins when we acknowledge that we are sinners, confess our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Eternal life begins when God justifies us and the Holy Spirit takes residence in our hearts.

I was thinking about how that might impact our prayer life. If we consider this very moment as part of our eternal life with God, does that change what we might petition God for in our requests to Him? Would our concerns for health, safety, and happiness even compare with the eternal life we are now living with Him? Wouldn’t our concern be more for others that aren’t living an eternal life with God? Would our prayers be more focused on revival, both here and elsewhere in the world? Would our prayers be focused on the salvation of those that don’t know Christ today?

There is an old saying that – “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good”. I actually don’t agree with that. I think if we were more eternally focused, that it would change the eternal part of our life here on earth into what God wants it to be for us. I pray that I will keep my eyes on my eternal life with God and that my prayers will stay focused on the kingdom of God.

Always praying for the glory of God,