When Does Eternal Life Begin?

Now that is a loaded question, and one I have been pondering for about a week.  I knew what my own gut reaction to the question was, but I imagined all kinds of answers people of different faiths and philosophies might have, so I set out on a journey to see where it would take me.

The question of eternal life is at the root of mankind’s eternal questions.  Who am I?  Why am I here? Is there anything more?  What happens after I die?  Because God has made us intelligent, we are naturally curious, and it seems we are most curious about things we cannot prove.   One thing is quite certain; we do not want to die.  Even when we grow old and fragile, clinging to life is more than instinctive and it is more than fear of the death of the body.  It is a sincere desire to live on after the body has withered and died.

Almost every religion and culture has some doctrine related to an afterlife.  From reincarnation to the idea of the dead haunting the living, to a clear separation of heaven and hell, evidence that mankind has been obsessed with the idea of eternal life throughout human history.  There is biblical foundation as well.  Found in Proverbs 12:28, “Everlasting life is on the way of righteousness. Eternal death is not along its path.”  And in Psalm 133:3 the psalmist tells us “It is like dew on Mount Hermon, dew which comes down on Zion’s mountains. That is where the LORD promised the blessing of eternal life.”  Matthews gospel (19:16) records Jesus being asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

There seems no doubt that most believe that there is such a thing as eternal life, but responses vary when asked when it begins?  I did my own little survey on a site that I frequent, made up of writers and thinkers from all walks of life.  I asked not only “When does eternal life begin?” but also, how one goes about the process of acquiring it.

shelly_ramasocky responded “Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of existing in a spiritual or physical form for an infinite period of time, infinite, meaning unlimited or immeasurable in extent of space, duration and time. It obviously is not possible to reach this biologically. (yet ?)  However, I believe that it is possible on the spiritual realm! Whether that exists prior to physical birth and extends beyond death infinitely we won’t know until we die. If we have the answer to this prior to birth; for some reason it is stripped away! … As far as the methods to achieve this; I truly believe that one has to find his or her own.  Someone who is truly seeking answers will educate themselves thoroughly on any and all denominations available and piece together something that works.”

So for Shelly the process and the timing are personal, the pieces of the puzzle may be taken from multiple sources, and it could begin prior to birth, or sometime after.  I would agree that the process is both spiritual and very personal.  Each person must find their own way to the Truth with a capital T.

onegoodwoman said, “Even while within the womb of my mother, God knew my name.  It started even before then………. Look at a wedding band… (or a rubber band, if you are a doubter)… really, do this, can you tell where it begins or ends? It is a perfect circle…………… so is life. It begins at the beginning.”

I applaud one good woman, because her faith is so strong!  I agree with her as well, but at the same time my thoughts race… If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?  Most people just can’t wrap their mind around “it begins at the beginning”.  They want something more concrete because they exist in a finite world and infinite is just too hard to envision.  If one accepts the existence of eternal death as an alternative to eternal life, then there must also be turning points.

Thesource answered, “Christians are told by their elders that life begins at conception.  I know that life began long before conception. Many have lived before the life they are in now. I also believe that life does not end with the death of one’s earthly body.  So what is eternal life if we are always life?  God has been with you, is with you and will always be with you forever and ever.  Your eternal life began when God created your soul from Himself. This was long before your conception in this lifetime. You soul knows this, but your mind does not know this.”

To Thesource I would reply that he/she sees life much as I understand love, not as a feeling or action, but rather as the stuff we are made of and meant to be.  I am not in agreement with “many have lived before the life they are in now”.  Maybe it is just my Judeo-Christian belief system here, but if life is eternal, it is one continuous life rather than beginnings and endings of separate and distinct lives.   And if I were to choose not to be what God created me to be, in other words, if I reject God and the life He offers, will He still want to be with me forever and ever?  I think that free will concept has to be a part of this discussion.

SpiritPhilosopher’s answer hangs on faith alone.  “Eternal life is NOT related to Physical, but related to Spiritual, or you can say related to the true faith in ‘God’ which is eternal or everlasting one!”

I am pretty much on the same page SpiritPhilosopher, who believes that it is by our faith in an eternal God, we may receive eternal life, and infers that it would begin when our faith takes precedence over our physical being.

I am truly blessed that I took this journey because it opened up new dimensions to the answer I initially responded with, and will share with you now.  I believe that eternal life begins when we choose it by faith, and start living it. It is the gift of a gracious God, given to the undeserving by virtue of the passion and sacrifice of the one Son of God and Son of Man.

Knowing that the choices I make today matter, and shape who I am for eternity, gives me reason to strive for wisdom to make the best possible choices, and honor the eternal God that I serve.

Blessings & Adventure,

Lynn “lynnibug” Rios

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