My God Is the Eternal Father
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined. — Isaiah 9:2
We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. — 1 John 5:20
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: Only God can give eternal life, and everything that belongs to him bears the mark of the imperishable. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are children of the Father and heirs to what is eternal. At first, I struggled to accept that faith was enough to receive salvation, and I fell into legalism, trying to earn it through works. Peter’s exhortation taught me to cultivate virtue, understanding, self-control, perseverance, devotion, brotherly affection, and love as the fruit of that faith. If we value our salvation, let us seek to know and imitate Christ more closely. He is the eternal light we can share, especially as Christmas approaches, with gratitude and joy.
All that is eternal belongs to God. No one but He alone can have any relationship with the eternal. Only He can offer eternal life; because He is God, He is the eternal way, the eternal rock, the eternal home. No writer has left or ever will leave an eternal word, nor can any man be an eternal testimony, offer eternal salvation or eternal joy, or have sealed an eternal covenant.
Our God is the eternal Father because everything about Him bears the seal of permanence, of what endures, of what cannot perish. The Word never tires of telling us this and reminding us of it, yet we ignore it.
What is eternal in the Father is not limited to His fatherhood. It also helps us understand that everything that is eternal for Him is eternal for us too, if we are His children through faith in Jesus Christ. Whoever has the Father is also an heir to the eternal. Whoever has the Son also has God. Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” (Jn 10:30). Look at this beautiful promise: “The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the moon shine on you with its brightness, for the Lord will be your eternal light; your God will be your glory” (Is 60:19).
In my early years as a Christian, I often reflected on eternal life. It seemed incredible to me that, through the benefit of faith alone, I could be so richly rewarded by Christ after committing so many sins. It seemed too simple. In my mind, things had to be more complicated; I had to do more than have faith in Him to enjoy a new life. As so often happens, I fell into the legalism of doing things to earn my salvation. Then I came across the apostle Peter and stopped to read and reread a couple of verses that remain my aspirations as a Christian to this day: “…make every effort to add to your faith, virtue; to virtue, understanding; to understanding, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, devotion to God; to devotion to God, brotherly affection; and to brotherly affection, love” (2 Pet 1:5–7).
These attributes paint a perfect portrait of Christ, the eternal Emmanuel, the eternal God. If we valued the eternal nature of salvation more, we would strive harder to imitate Him, know Him better, and love Him (follow Him) more. Because of His paternal and brotherly relationship with the redeemed people, who are the church of the living God, God crowned Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the eternal sovereign. I repeat what Jesus says: “The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30). From this we infer His paternal relationship with the children of God.
The light that shines took on flesh in Emmanuel (Is 9:2), a light as eternal as His gospel, a gift available to everyone who walks in darkness: “…the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true God. And we are with the True One, with His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn 5:20). I recommend that you read this revealing verse again.
We really should live in the joy of the Lord. Just thinking that we are a tiny particle of eternity in the vastness of the universe God created is cause for wonder and gratitude. Remember that Christmas is coming soon. Offer and share the best gift: Christ, the eternal God, the light that shone in the world and found us a place in His eternity.
God bless you!
Suggested reading: Psalm 76