Would You like to Live Forever?

In the year 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León embarked on a remarkable expedition. Setting sail from Puerto Rico, hopes were high of reaching the island of Bimini and finding a legendary and miraculous spring, the Fountain of Youth. However, he failed to discover the nonexistent fountain, instead landing in what is now the state of Florida.

Today, humans do not live much longer than a measly 70 or 80 years. Although the Bible lists ancient people with much greater life spans, it also harmonizes with this unfortunate estimation. At Psalms 90:10, we read, "In themselves the days of our years are seventy years; and if because of special mightiness they are eighty years, yet their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things, for it must quickly pass by, and away we fly."

Scientifically speaking, our bodies are engineered with the capacity to live well beyond the averages, even forever. During the course of a lifetime, nearly every portion of our body is renewed several times over. However, this process ends prematurely because the cells mysteriously stop multiplying after a period of time. If not for this predetermined rate of cell division, the human body could eternally regenerate itself.

Consider, too, the limited use of the full capacity of our brain. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the human brain "is endowed with considerably more potential than is realizable in the course of one person's lifetime." In fact, it's estimated that we use approximately one-half of one percent of our brain's full potential.

Why is it that researchers cannot find a physiological reason for death? Is it possible that we were designed by a loving creator to keep living on into eternity? Why is everlasting life something we can even conceive of?

The Bible states, "Even time indefinite God has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the true God has made from the start to the finish." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) These words highlight the fact that God rooted in us this concept of living forever. The desire is there, the means is not. If we lived for billions of years, because of God's unsearchable wisdom and power, we would never find out all there is to know.

The words of Jesus also demonstrate to us that eternal life is certainly possible. A popular and often cited text at John 17:3 tells us, "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) What about you personally? Is it your hope to live forever?

Some may think that living forever would be both lackluster and dreary. If that is how you feel, consider what eternal life would offer. All of us were created with a naturally inquisitive mind and a desire to learn. In the proper forum, think of what we could accomplish in the fields of art, literature, engineering, architecture, horticulture, or whatever other noteworthy pursuit captures your attention.

Moreover, a life of eternity would not be spent in the urbanized, poverty-stricken, polluted world as we know it to be now. Think of the most beautiful spot on our planet you have seen. Perhaps the Scottish Highlands, the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, waterfalls in Costa Rica, or lush tropical island getaways. These gems are but a foregleam of what God has in store for his earth. God created the first couple in a beautiful garden paradise. And his desire to return to that remains strong.

Remember Christ's promise to the repentant evildoer hanging alongside him. "Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom," he said. Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:42,43) At Psalms chapter 37, we're provided with the hope of living forever on earth. "But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalms 37:11)

What of societal conditions among those living forever? In order to enjoy life to the fullest, it must be free from hatred, strife, crime, bigotry and the like. The Bible makes clear that "...death, mourning, outcry, pain" would no longer exist. (Revelation 21:3,4) Those who cause such things would be removed, "cut off" from the blessings bestowed by God. (Psalm 37:10)

Indeed, life without love is no life at all. Being able to forever exhibit love and in turn, experience love, would make eternal life the most satisfying life one could ever know. Sharing in the Godly capacity to love reaps deep contentment that would not fade with time, but instead grow stronger. Living forever would thus offer never-ending opportunities to nurture this love, not only toward one another but especially toward God. "If anyone loves God, this one is known by him," said the apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 8:3) What a wonderful hope to have, to know and be known by the Universal Sovereign of all things. How, then, could everlasting life ever be considered boring or without reward?

If eternal life were gifted to us, would the value of our lives be diminished? Such is often the case when we have an overabundance of something. We might compare the enjoyment of eternal life to possessing an abundance of life-giving air. Sailors in a sinking submarine would certainly consider their shrinking air supply to be of utmost value. Once rescued, can you imagine them complaining unappreciatively about having to breathe air in abundance again?

Like these sailors, we too can be rescued. Our home is rapidly being submerged under ever-increasing crime, wars, poverty, sickness, pestilence and death; indeed all the "signs of the last day" that Christ spoke so candidly to his disciples about. (Matthew chapter 24) The Apostle Paul told us that due to Adam and Eve's momentous choice to live a life absent of God's direction, "The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

We continue to reap that sad consequence. This is why people age, decay and die. Yet through the ransom sacrifice of Christ, God will expunge such things, eradicate human imperfection and death on a grand scale, and confer upon the righteous the reward of everlasting life. That's what he tried to do from the start. How grateful each one of us should be for this wonderful hope.