Life | Long Life | Eternal Life (part 1)

How the most important sentence can transform our life into long life and eternal life.

In Matthew 4:4 we find the most important sentence for our life. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." These words do not say that we should not eat, but rather it highlights the importance of God's word. Our primary focus should be on God's word and then on the physical matters such as food, clothes, work, etc.

Life

I was born to live and my decisions and actions will determine my life. My life can be good or bad. I only choose what I allow to influence my life. Will I live the life that God wants me to live? Will I follow His word or will I be satisfied with the life I am living right now? No matter what you choose, you will receive your reward.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Long Life (prolonged days, lengthen your days)

In order to have a long and successful life, we are instructed to to follow God's word.

"Honour your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged, and it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Deuteronomy 5:16)

"Fear the LORD your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command to you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged." (Deuteronomy 6:2)

"And if you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days." (1King 3:14)

"My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you." (Proverbs 3:1-2)

Eternal Life (live for ever)

There is something more important than a long and successful life - Eternal life. This is why Jesus came. He came to open the gates of death to everlasting life. Please, remember this. If you are ever asked what Jesus' mission was, your answer should be to have eternal life.

Please, see the following scriptures:

John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

John 6:58 "This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever." 

Genesis 3:22 "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:"

You may not hear people talk about eternal life that much these days. Most of the population is caught up in focusing on life or long life. Gaining the whole world is today's profit, being successful is today's goal even above the loss of the soul. It is up to you to make a list of priorities. I can't do it for you and God will not do it for you either.

Let us read a passage from Matthew 19:16-22 (similar words were recorded in Mark 10:17 or in Luke 18:18). "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, why call you me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

The young man was interested in having everything. He was successful and obeyed God's words, which gave him a reward. He also wanted eternal life. In order to gain eternal life, life's priorities must change. Keeping God's word is part of it. So what was the young man missing? The answer is focus. His focus was different from Jesus'.

To finish the part 1, continue reading from Matthew 19:23 to Matthew 20:16.