Eternal life is something that we only think of in terms of its quantity. It lasts forever. It also has a greater quality to it here and now. Lost people will exist forever in the Lake of Fire and saved people will live forever in the Paradise of Heaven. The different quality of existence between the two destinies is easy to understand as we look into the future.
One of the greatest delights of being a Christian is noticing the differences God has made in us and in our lives here and now. We may have to look carefully and diligently to find them since we don’t have as clear a perception of the Kingdom of God here and now as we will have when we get there.
1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
We can only see darkly that the Kingdom is within us. We can only see darkly that the King is within our hearts.
Luke 17:21: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Ephesians 3:17a: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; . . .
We can only see darkly the difference between what our hearts were before we trusted Christ (deceitful and wicked) and what they are now (pure).
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
