Eternal Life and Immortality
By William Covert
ALTHO it was not possible to consult man about life until after he had been placed upon the stage of action, yet present conditions are such that he can, and does, choose for himself as to whether or not he is to live forever. The life given to Adam in creation, and thru him to the human family, is transitory, still it affords those who have this life an opportunity to seek for and obtain eternal life thru Christ, the divine Life-Giver. Revelation says, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." Job. 14:1. In fact, it is appointed unto man to die once, but after this comes a judgment (Heb. 9:27) to decide which the individual is to have for eternity, life or death. In the Adamic life, which all possess by nature, man can choose to live forever and his choice will be respected. Moses, the great leader of God's ancient people, is set forth as an illustration of how man may choose a destiny for himself. When the deciding point in his trial course came, he rejected an earthly kingdom which offered abundant opulence and much that glittered with human glory (Heb. 11:24-26). In the place of these he chose a blessed destiny, but one which filled up the time of his mortal life with a service which led thru forty years of hard and humble work, and then on thru forty years more of burden-bearing and sore perplexity for his complaining kindred. But thru all these eighty years of service which followed his exodus from Pharaoh's court, the grace of God enabled him to be true to the choice which he had made. During this entire period he believed that even the reproaches of Christ were of far greater value than all the riches that Egypt could offer. But the reward he sought and found was not visible to the eyes of natural sight (Heb. 11:27). To him, thru faith, were given senses by which he could feel the power of an endless life reaching down from the place of heavenly glory. The strength of the life thus imparted became the controlling power of his destiny. By this divine generation, he was "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. . . . And," listen, kind reader, "this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:23-25. The true status of this subject is given in the scripture which says, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12. The life generated thru flesh is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14. But this fleeting life is not the real thing for which men were given being. Men were not made to be sinners, but they were created that God might have children to love, and that these children might be lovable members of a beautiful and righteous family possessing everlasting life. But since there has been a failure on the part of many to choose the way of life, the following proclamation has gone forth: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36. The believer, in uniting with Christ, is, in this very act, passing from death unto eternal, or everlasting, life (John 5:24). He is thereby brought into touch with the life-giving power of the Son of God in such a manner that a new creation is manifested in him. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [new creation]; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." A new course of action begins,—a new character is developed and a new man is the result (Eph. 4:23, 24). The power of an endless life is doing its work. Paul, writing of this working, said, "Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now [as a Christian] live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." The vital influence of the eternal life in Christ is seen and felt in act and word, bringing the peace and joy of heaven to our earth in the experiences of those who love and follow Jesus. This is the working of eternal life in Christianity. Concerning the redemption of the body, the apostle says that God will render eternal life to those who continue "patient" in "well-doing." Rom. 2:7. He addressed himself to Titus as being "in hope of eternal life" which God promised before the world began. He also says that "being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:7. The believer is now brought into touch with the life of Christ by faith so that its principles of righteousness are imparted to him. In this manner he is made ready to receive the physical benefits of immortality hereafter. Thus we see two lines, or a double line of texts upon the subject of eternal life, one referring to what this life does for the believer here in changing his heart and character to conform to eternal principles, the other line referring to how it conforms the body to eternal conditions. From Mortal to Immortal without Death.
When mortal life in the believer has run its course, he falls asleep in Jesus to await the Lord's appointed time for an awakening to immortality. There are some, however, who will not sleep. But even those must be changed from mortality to immortality. Referring to this final consummation, the apostle says, "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. This change which comes to the favored4ones who are alive and waiting for the coming of the Lord will be accomplished in a way to exempt them from corruption. Their mortality will be instantly swallowed up, or superseded, by immortality. Not only so, but those who are thus ready will without delay be taken to the abode of the redeemed. As told in Bible language, "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." The ardent desire of the Christian for instant transition from the mortal state to the immortal is sweetly expressed in the following lines: "O joy! O delight! should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness, no dread, and no crying;
Caught up thru the clouds with our Lord into glory
When Jesus receives His own." Sorrow and death do not primarily belong to God's domain. They came as intruders thru the gateway which sin opened, and they must be cast out when that gate is finally closed. Going back into the shades of the everlasting past, and not very remotely either, we come to a time when, as yet, man had not been made. In that period Lucifer had not inaugurated his rebellion, nor had any of the angels fallen. Then the dreadful word "death" was not used in any vocabulary found in all the universe. Such a word was not needed, because that awful thing now indicated by the word had not affected anything in all God's realm. The Cruel Invader Destroyed.
Well, by and by this cruel invader will be destroyed, that life and immortality may have undisturbed rule. Then we will dwell in a home where death can never enter, nor even be allowed to knock at the gate. Not until we have seen the land of life, and have felt the thrill of immortality, can we have an adequate sense of what our joys in Christ, in their completeness, are to be. Think of perfected forms buoyant with the fulness of eternal life, wearing countenances radiant with heavenly love. Contemplate the joyful spirits and the confident deportment of a people who know they shall never grow old, nor ever meet a heartache. Listen to the musical voices and pleasing expressions where all are perfectly and everlastingly good. Advance in mind into the possession of the future fadeless life. Dwell in that home, all your own, where there is no chill in the air, nor burning from the sun. Abide where there is no storm in commotion nor pestilence in the breeze. Listen,—there are songs with no sadness, and hymns,—O, so full of gladness. There is no dread with the meetings nor weeping with the partings. Nothing is wanting! Nothing to be dismissed! All thru Jesus! Dear reader, do you desire these things? Then seek them in Christ, for only in Him can they be found.