Pastor Steven Thomas was born in Houston,
Texas. He graduated from New Mexico Tech with a BS in Chemistry. He was working
as a chemist in Baltimore for a few years, and then decided to pursue the dream
of being a pastor. In 1993, Pastor Steve graduated from the Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Gettysburg.
Pastor
Steve enjoys hiking, kayaking, and reading. Pastor Steve’s passion is always
looking for greater understanding - especially in how our expanding scientific
knowledge reveals additional wonders of God.
Some
of his favorite books are The Bible (of course), Awareness by
Anthony DeMello, One Minute Nonsense by Anthony DeMello, The
Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, E=mc2 by David Bodanis,
and the Tolkein trilogy.
When we think about eternal
life, a lot of times you think that that just means that we get to live forever
– after this life. It is true that, at
the end of His earthly life, Jesus ascended into heaven to live forever. And we will certainly join Jesus there.
It is also true that, in
the book of Revelation, we see visions of countless people robed in white who
are in heaven. So, that is the promise
of living forever in heaven.
But it seems as if there
are two ways that the gospels see eternal life.
In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke – people question Jesus about
“inheriting” eternal life. This seems to
indicate receiving eternal life after you die (Matt. 19:16-21, Matt. 19:29,
Mark 10:30, Luke 18:18-23, and others).
But in the gospel of John,
Jesus speaks of having eternal life in the present tense. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
life” (John 3:36) “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under
judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
(John 5:24) “You search the scriptures because you think that in them
you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.” (present tense, John 5:39) “Very truly, I
tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.” (John 6:47)
“Those who eat my flesh and
drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last
day” (John 6:54) This statement implies that eternal life begins now as we eat
the body and blood of Jesus in holy communion.
The writer of John or the
Jesus portrayed in John is speaking of an eternal life that is a part of our
existence during the course of this life.
That causes me to ponder just what that eternal life is and what it
looks like.
So, I would propose that
eternal life is that way of living in Jesus where you are more concerned about
those kinds of things and those parts of life that are eternal. That is, when you think of love and live in
love – you are living in the eternal: eternal life. When you give mercy and grace and forgiveness
– and live in mercy and grace and forgiveness, then you are living in eternal
life.
I believe the same is true
when you stop and contemplate nature.
The sun and the trees are an ever-present reality in this life. So, basically, they are “forever” a part of
this life that God has made. And so, by
contemplating or resting your mind and your awareness in them, then you are
living in eternal life – in that moment.
The same is true of rocks and water, dogs and cats and mosquitoes.
As I have considered these
things, it is interesting that living in this eternal life leaves out your
ego. That part of your personality that
is so concerned with its own interests.
When your attention is focused on those “eternal” things outside of
yourself, you are less focused on your worries and your greeds. You just live in the moment, with Jesus.
And in that moment, you
taste of something that is other than this self-centered life. You taste of eternity.
This is a skill that you can train.
Learning to live in the moment.
Learning to live in eternity. One
day at a time. One hour at a time.