Would you like to live forever? To some that probably sounds like a joke. Others will say they are already going to live forever, as they are saved through faith in Christ Jesus. They believe when they die they will be changed to become a spirit creature and be with Jesus in Heaven. Others believe they are going to live forever because they won't really die at death, but will simply live on in some other form. That is not the kind of "live forever" we are asking about though. Our question is: Would you like to live forever, continuing on as the human person you are now? [Minus old age, illness, and imperfection of course.] If that is an idea that is appealing to you, you should consider some things Jesus said and the Bible teaches.
First as to the reality of the hope of everlasting life; And what can help us attain that hope. Jesus said in prayer to God: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3) Those words of Christ Jesus then, along with many other scriptures, give credibility to the hope of everlasting life. What about the idea of living forever as a man though? [Please note also, that Jesus tied that hope of everlasting life to our taking in knowledge: Knowledge of God and of Christ.]
We know through faith in the Bible that God's intention in creating the earth was to have the entire earth be a paradise. He put Adam and Eve in the paradise garden of Eden, and told them to have children and spread that paradise through all the earth. (Consider the basic Bible theme.) Death had no place until after humans sinned. That was God's purpose for the earth when he created it then: To have it full of people living forever in paradise. The Bible further tells us all God's works (including his creation of the Garden of paradise) are perfect. If that was the intent of Jehovah God when He made the earth, doesn't is seem likely He has the ability to make it so?
The Bible does present the hope the earth will yet become a paradise! (Psalm 37:29-31) Some will say no, the Bible says the earth is to be destroyed, not become a paradise. They are right, the Bible does say the earth is to be destroyed. Peter said the earth was destroyed in the days of Noah and he indicated a similar destruction for our day. (2 Peter 3:5-7 NWT) . . .For, according to their wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; 6 and by those [means] the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. 7 But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men. In what the Bible refers to as the destruction of the earth in Noah's day then, the righteous were preserved alive. (1 Peter 3:20)
To destroy the violence that had consumed the earth of Noah's day took drastic action by God. Bringing about the Paradise God intended when he created the earth, will likewise require drastic action; Similar to that of the Flood of Noah's day. Matthew chapter 24, verses 37 to 39, shows that Jesus compared our time period with "the days of Noah," in which people "took no note" of their critical time. The people of Noah's day ignored the "truth" that Noah preached among them. They had no interest in the opportunity for salvation being offered them. It seemed silly to them. Then came "the day that Noah entered into the ark" and the Flood destroyed all who had rejected the knowledge of God as presented them. Noah and those with him in the ark kept on living. This is all part of the knowledge Jesus taught us, and then said would mean our very lives. (John 17:3)
The days we are living in amount to a judgment period similar to that of Noah's day. Noah tried to warn the people of his day, just as Christ Jesus has warned people of our day. We are all being judged as to whether we want life in a paradise. We may hear someone say, "Oh yes, I want to live in a paradise." Then we see them get in their car and drive away throwing their trash out the window. Are they giving indication they really want to live in a paradise? Would they throw their trash out the window if they were preserved alive into the paradise? What about the far more important signs as to whether we love our fellow man though: What about stealing, lying, cheating, even killing? If we practice the things the Bible condemns, are we showing our Father we want to be in his paradise? Are we rather separating ourselves from God's protection by our disobedience? Do we recognize disobedience to God is what brought about death and all the problems that beset mankind? Are we determined to be obedient to God no matter what?
Jesus said the word he had spoken would be the judge us in the last days. He also said that between our own thoughts we are being accused or even excused. As you learn what the Bible teaches, it develops a conscience in you. Then, based on that Bible knowledge, you accuse or even excuse yourself for your actions (using your Bible trained conscience). (Romans 2:15) It would seem then, the word that Jesus spoke is judging us (John 12:48) as to whether we are going to receive life in the paradise being established on the earth, or be washed away in the destruction of this old system. By our obedience we demonstrate to our Father we love him and want to live in the home he has prepared for us. (1 John 5:3)
As to our living forever as men and women and never having to die? Remember, Noah and his family survived the earth's destruction of his day. His family joined him in heeding the knowledge for his day, and they were preserved alive as men and women right through that destruction. Of course, there is the resurrection hope for Abraham, and David, and other faithful men and women who have died. They will be resurrected to continue their life as was Lazarus of Jesus's day. (John 11:38-44) Unlike Lazarus though, they will live on forever if they are obedient.
That presents us with two possible hopes: A resurrection to everlasting life for those who have died; And never having to die at all for those who are fortunate to be living and be delivered through the destruction of this old world; Which destruction will restore paradise. (Ecclesiastes 1:4 ; Isaiah 65:17-19 ; 2 Peter 3:13) Note how Jesus mentioned both hopes in the account of Lazarus. Jesus said to Martha at John 11:25-27: "He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all." All evidence suggests this "day" is now, which means that you can have hope to "never die at all." Do you believe this? It is knowledge of God's word that can awaken and build that hope in you. Learn for yourself what the Bible says, and avoid being led along by the dreams of men!
Where will Jesus reside? At 1 Kings 2:45 and again at Luke 1:32, the Bible teaches God will raise up one to sit on King David's throne forever. For those who have come to love and put faith in Jesus, this gives rise to another question: Where will Jesus live in this new earthly paradise and sit on David's throne? If we are favored to live forever as men and women upon the earth, will our lord be with us? The Bible teaches Christ was resurrected to heaven and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne. (Hebrews 8:1) Clearly, Jesus was resurrected as a mighty spirit creature and will have access to his Father in heaven forever. (Proverbs 8:22-31 ; John 20:17) It seems unlikely he would ever give that up to return to being a man. There are some interesting Bible accounts though, of powerful spirit angels who appeared to men. Those angels visited with men, and often were perceived by those men to be humans. They sometimes even ate meals with men. Jesus said something interesting to his followers that related to this. While eating with them just before he died he said he would not eat again of the fruit of the vine until he ate it in the kingdom of his Father. (Luke 22:18) Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christ Jesus would walk about among those who are favored to live forever on earth. Jesus clearly and decisively demonstrated his great love for humankind. That love for us will never diminish, and it seems reasonable that we might have personal contact with him. We have waded into an area which seems not clearly defined by the Bible however, and so we must admit don't know. To assert something would simply be speculation. It is alright not to know but if we assert what is not true we go beyond the things written and become guilty. (1 Corinthians 4:6) What we do know for certain is that what ever the details prove to be, it will be good simply because it is the will of our Father.
We can know the Bible says the earth was destroyed in the days of Noah, (2 Peter 3:6) and then it goes on to say: "As in the days of Noah, so will the presence of the son of man be." (Matthew 24:37) The Bible thus draws a parallel between the days of Noah and the coming of the son of man, and we know persons were preserved alive through the destruction of Noah's day. (1 Peter 3:20) We know the knowledge Jesus came to give us means life, and that our faith in those teachings of Jesus is what will save us alive. Doesn't it become urgent above all else to learn what the Bible teaches?
Amen, come quickly lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
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