"the power of an endless life"
(Heb. 7: 16)
"the world passes away, and the lust thereof but
he that does the will of God abides for ever"
(I John 2: 17)
In this chapter we will finish our look at power as an element of status, both for the present world and for the world to come. The believer's status in Christ is superior by comparison with the unbelieving elites of this world. The wealthy of this world are generally poor in the things of God, being unbelievers, and will certainly be bankrupt in Hell forever when this age ends. Believers, on the other hand, though generally of those "of low degree" and of "the poor of this world," are nevertheless "rich in faith," and in many other things of the spirit, and will be forever rich in the ages to come.
Likewise, the educated elite of this world are generally more knowledgeable in the natural sciences, in general academics, than are God's elect. The world's wise men and philosophers, its "scientists" and "experts," are often superior to believers in knowledge of such things. As we have previously mentioned, Jesus said that "the children of this age are in their generation wiser than the children of light." However, the believer, being God's elect, is superior in wisdom and knowledge as compared with the unbelieving worldly elite, as we have shown.
The world's powerful, "the mighty," though they almost universally reject God's revelation (as Paul affirms in his opening remarks to the Corinthians), yet they are the elite of this present evil age. But, they are not the truly strong but are rather themselves weak and impotent. Though their power gives them lots of control over things and people, yet they cannot control themselves, their lusts, or enticements to sin. It is the believer, through Christ and his word, who is strong in mind, soul, and spirit. His strength is seen in his resistance to sin and temptation. He has self control (increasingly as he lives the Christian life). This is because he is joined to Christ "the Power of God." Further, he is destined to even greater power.
In the previous chapter we looked at what is involved in "the power of an endless life," about the powers associated with becoming immortal in life. In this chapter we will conclude our look at the superior power belonging to the saints as compared to the world's present elite, its elect or select. In conjunction with "immortality" is the concept of "eternal" or "everlasting life" and its association with power, what is called "the power of an endless life."
Eternal Invisible Things
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Cor. 4: 17-18)
"Look" (skopeo) from skopos, meaning "distant mark looked at, goal or end one has in view; English "scope" as in microscope or telescope) means to "spy out", to look at, to observe, to contemplate, to mark (to fix or trace out the bounds or limits of). Contemplate, look into, examine, inspect, continue to regard closely, to notice carefully, pay attention to, keep one's attention on." It is because of this extended definition that Kenneth Wuest, Greek scholar, better translates the text in these words:
"while we are not contemplating the things that are seen but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
The knowledge that the world's wise, learned, and educated, those with the titles and degrees, contemplate and study, with microscopes and telescopes, are things that are visible, things made of matter, things of the physical world. They cannot study what is invisible, generally speaking. Some of them, the materialists, not believing in a spiritual realm, nor in spirits or other invisible beings, nor non material entities, do not attempt therefore to contemplate such things, things beyond their physical senses. They are like the Sadducees of whom we have the following record of their beliefs in this regard:
"The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things." (Acts 23: 8)
Other unbelievers among the educated class are like the Pharisees and believe in a non physical realm of existence. Among psychologists today there is this same division, some believing that the human being has a soul or spirit distinct from the physical body while others, the materialists, deny it, affirming that all human psychology can be explained through physical or chemical processes.
Consider what we call the realm of thought and ideas. Is that to be viewed as a chemical process alone? Or, is it not rather a proof of the non physical realm, the world of the soul and spirit? Likewise, consider how "mind" is defined from these two perspectives. Is mind simply the physical brain? Or, does mind signify something spiritual as well? What is the labyrinth connecting soul (or spirit) with brain matter?
But, whether unbelievers, among the world's educated elite, be Sadducee or Pharisee, be materialist or not, they each do not generally make unseen things an object of study, contemplation, or investigation. The unbelievers who do study those things, however, do not come to properly understand "invisible things." They are "ever learning but never able to come to the truth" (II Tim. 3: 7) on the study of them. Examples would be some psychologists, parapsychologists, philosophers, writers and authors, and certainly all those who attempt to communicate with the spirit world. These do "look at" things which are not seen, meaning they investigate things beyond the physical senses.
There is no question about the fact that Paul, in the above words, sees study of invisible things superseding study of the visible things. This puts religious thought on a higher level than secular thought. Thoughts about God, who is himself invisible, and his works, which include the physical world, is the better way to spend one's thought time. Theology is the queen of the sciences. Knowledge of God takes precedence over all other knowledge.
With these thoughts in mind, and with a desire to "look at" things that are "unseen," let us contemplate "eternal life" with the eyes of the soul, with the "mind's eye." It is an invisible thing, and being such, is "eternal" (unlike "visible things," which are "temporary").
How can things invisible be looked at? How can you look at what you cannot see? Is it not in our minds? In our contemplation of things beyond our physical sight? Christians testify that it is "through the eye of faith" that the things of spirit are discerned. It is also in what is called the "imagination," the place where things are seen in internal vision and images. Things that are invisible, says the apostle, are eternal things. First, let us consider how God himself, being spirit, and not composed of matter, is invisible.
"By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." (Heb. 11: 27)
Notice again the paradox. Seeing what cannot be seen, invisible things visible. Moses did see a "burning bush" wherein the great "I Am" manifested his glorious presence, the "Malak Yahweh," or "Angel of the Lord," the second person in the Trinity, the eternal Son of God, but he saw no physical form. But, believers see God in their mind's eye, in visualization through the "inner eye," through the eye of faith. Not only God in his person or being, but things about God, such as his works and attributes, his likes and dislikes, are also invisible things. Wrote Paul:
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Rom. 1: 20)
By "things of him" Paul refers to God's attributes, his essential characteristics, his "ways," his "thoughts," his likes and dislikes, to his "eternal (infinite) power" and "Godhead," or his divinity, his "divine nature." (See Isa. 55: 8-9; II Peter 1: 3-4) The invisible things of God include "life," especially the divine life. These are things man cannot see with his physical eye nor is it what the mind's eye of the sinner, blinded by sin, is able to see. Wrote Paul:
"But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (I Cor. 2: 9-12)
The eyes of the natural man apart from the Holy Spirit cannot "see" or discern the invisible things, eternal truth, "the things of God," yea, "the deep things of God," and "the things freely given" to believers by God. God cannot be known by a microscope nor by a study of chemistry. God is not discovered by "scientific investigation." God can only be known as he reveals himself and he does this by his Spirit and his Spirit operates through the word of God. This is why the scriptures connect enlightenment with coming to know God and spiritual things, things that are eternal and invisible.
Eternal Life
"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." (Titus 1: 2)
"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." (I John 2: 25)
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6: 51)
When the scriptures speak of "eternal life" it means more than simple unending existence (as also was the case with "immortality"). It includes the idea of quality of life as much as it does the quantity of it. What kind of eternal life is it when mere existence is nothing but misery? For instance, to be forever in a state of woe, though consciously alive and existing, cannot be called "eternal life" even though there is eternal conscious existence. If "eternal life" refers to mere conscious existence, then the occupants of the eternally burning lake have eternal life also. But, they do not have eternal life. That is given only to those to whom it is promised, to God's elect, to believers in Jesus. "Eternal life" is therefore not mere unending existence (quantity), but is eternal zest for living, eternal youth and vigor, power and strength (quality). It will include unlimited happiness and enthusiasm (which means "God within"). Eternal life will exuberant, that is, it will be full of energy, excitement, cheerfulness, and luxuriance. Life will be full of gusto.
Notice how "eternal life" in the above passage in Titus is viewed as not yet in possession, but is rather something hoped for, or expected, in the future. In the scriptures we have eternal life declared to be a present possession of all those who have been raised from spiritual death to spiritual life, or of all believers. For instance, the apostle John wrote:
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5: 11-12)
Believers possess Christ now and they have life even now. But if so, then why is it then an object of hope? Notice that the following text also puts obtaining eternal life in the future, being given following the judgment of the nations.
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matt. 25: 46)
The going away into eternal life means entering the eternal state in immortal life in body and soul. It refers to entering a world where there is no death. Believers have eternal life now in their souls and spirits, but they do not yet have it in their bodies. They also do not now enjoy eternal life in its fullness, nor "eternal life" as a place and state of perfection, as a utopia.
The Tree Of Life
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev. 22: 14)
The tree of life is that tree whose fruit, when eaten, gives eternal life. It is both a symbol and a reality. As a symbol it represents immortality and eternal life, health and well being. Said Solomon: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." (Prov. 13: 12) Eternal life is truly "desire fulfilled." Experiencing the benefits of the tree of life is set in contrast to unrealized hope which sickens and diminishes life and living. This will be the case with those suffering eternal death in the lake of fire. Believers will have their utmost desires realized forever in the eternal state, in the eternal kingdom, in the new heavens and new earth, while the unbelievers will have all hope extinguished forever.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God." (Rev. 2: 7)
In both these passages from the Apocalypse we see again how coming into eternal life is viewed as yet future. This assumes of course that there is some close connection between eternal life and the tree of life.
In the Garden of Eden Lord God, via guardian angels in the form of flaming swords, Adam and Eve were kept from eating of the tree of life after they had been condemned and banished because of transgression. Because they ate of the forbidden tree, "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," they were kept from eating of the "tree of life" which was in the midst of the garden. This was an act of mercy on the part of God, both as respects Adam and Eve personally and the human race in general. Had they eaten of the tree of life immediately after being condemned and altered in nature by their transgression they would have forever been fixed in that state, at least as respects their bodies.
Thankfully, we have every reason to believe, Adam and Eve did in their souls, hearts, minds, and spirits eat of the promised Messiah, who is the true "tree of life," who was revealed to them in the "protoevangelium," or in the first promise of a Redeemer and Savior who would particularly be "the seed of the woman." They did this by embracing that promise; And, this act of faith in the promise gave them eternal life in their spirits. The same is true today with new testament believers. They eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood, and in so partaking of Christ they are already partaking of the tree of life. However, as we have before observed, there is yet the full enjoyment of it for the soul when it enters into eternity, and especially as respects the human body which in no sense partakes of the tree of life while in this life.
We have now finished our extensive look at power (including authority, rights, and privileges) as an element of lofty status and have shown how God's elect, believers, are superior. They are not so in every respect now "in this age," but they will be even more so in "the age to come."
We have shown that the believer has a superior status in Christ in respect not only to power, but also to riches, wisdom, and knowledge. These are the areas where the believer is "enriched" by his Lord. In the next chapter we will look at how the believer is, as Paul says, "enriched in all utterance."
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