Why is it so important to hold on to eternal life?

Peace and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ may be multiplied in your life on this wonderful day! I pray for God’s Word to penetrate your spirit and strengthen you in your spirit, soul and body.

We have been talking about the importance of laying hold on eternal life. The Bible advises us to live in a particular way, that is, to flee sin, pursue righteousness and holy life and fight the good fight of faith.

 «But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses» (1 Timothy, 6:11-12).

Yesterday we talked about the nation of Israel; they were brought out of Egypt, started their journey to your Promised Land that was given them by God. It is a prototype of our life-walk. Eternal life is a journey. God desires us not only to start this journey, but also to finish it. As we saw yesterday, many people that left Egypt did not enter the Promised Land, because they did not follow God’s instructions. They did not flee sin; they did not pursue righteousness and holy life, and they did not fight the good fight of faith.

Besides, the basic lack of patience also was the reason of not entering the Promised Land. Why is it so important to hold on to eternal life? The journey to eternal life is very slippery. If you won’t be alert and pray, you won’t even notice how eternal life will slip away from you. Have you ever tried to hold a live fish in your hands? Even if you manage to take it, it can cunningly slip out of your hands. In the very same way eternal life can slip away from you without you even noticing. You won’t notice the moment when that happens. You could go on with your religious activities, attending church meetings, praying, reading the Bible, but not be on the way to eternal life. None of these things is able to guarantee to you that you will surely keep eternal life. You know, so many unbelievers do all these things: they go to church, read their Bibles, pray. Prayer has its place in every religion of the world; a person may pray, but it does not mean that he or she will inherit eternal life. So many people in our churches today do not have eternal life. It is not my task or my right to judge who has it and who does not. But my task is to warn and tell about how important it is to hold on to eternal life and not allow it to slip away from you.

The Bible says,

 «The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God» (Romans, 8:16).

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John, 5:10-13).

Only you and God can have the witness of whether you have eternal life. Everyone who has eternal life knows about it, because the Spirit of God testifies about it to his spirit. Their consciousness testifies to them that they have eternal life. Today I want to say that everyone who has eternal life has to hold on to it. We must no allow anything to distract us from finishing our race.

Apostle Paul says to Timothy,

 «Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you» (1 Timothy, 4:16).

We see that we need to save both ourselves and those who hear us. In our ministry we must focus on laying hold on eternal life and preparing others for eternal life through the preaching of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. . Paul focused his heart on the main things; he did not let different insignificant matters to hinder him in his journey to eternal life. Paul did not allow anything or anybody to take his focus away from the ministry God entrusted him.

 «And see, now I go bound in the spirit of Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God» (Acts, 20:22-24).

Paul points out that the most important thing for him is to finish his race with joy and the ministry that he received from God. Paul was focused on these things. He was committed not just begin his race, but to also finish it; that is why he never allowed anything to distract him. It was his position in life. God calls every one of us to take the same position and to have the same commitment: to be focused on finishing our race.

God bless you! Till tomorrow!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye