"And not only this, but falleth it not to me to give a gift that [shall] be better to him, and more worshipful, than his own wholeness should have been?—or else methinketh I should do him no grace."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 51)
God has given us a precious gift in Christ, the gift of eternal life, life that is found in the resurrection life of Christ Himself. This life is far better than anything Adam knew, even better than life in the Garden of Eden, even better than life when there was no Fall.
The resurrection life we've been raised up into with Christ is beyond the reach of death. It goes on forever and cannot ever be extinguished. We have life forever with God! This resurrection life is beyond the reach of sin and evil. Those things don't and can't exist in this life! We are in a place where those things are already conquered. We are already victors over whatever struggles or sins that are in earthly life. We are in a whole different realm now, the realm of sinlessness, pure love and holiness. For everything is new here. Whatever of the old life that pulled us down, hurt us, made us feel ashamed or gave us regret is gone - it has passed away and all is totally healed and well, totally right and pure. We are in the place of ultimate peace and joy, for it is God's own peace and joy that we experience here, which can't be stolen away or lost! We have ultimate security in this resurrection life, because with Christ we have already been raised up to heaven. We don't have to worry about whether we will get there because we have already arrived! So there is perfect security, knowing we are already safe in heaven and thus, can never be lost or perish. We are reigning in heavenly places in Christ. That means we are not underneath any circumstance or problem; instead, we are already reigning over it with Christ. We have relationship with God the Father that is beyond wonderful, because it is more than just a human's relationship with God: it is Christ the Son's relationship with the Father! We have been brought into the perfect fellowship of the Trinity, and are experiencing the love and union bonds between the Father and the Son! Thus we have been brought into the perfect relationship with our Father and have a bond with Him that can never be broken, because it is the secure bond between the Father and the Son! This resurrection life is beyond our wildest dreams, and it is already ours in Christ!
What a wonderful reward and gift the Father has given us, which more than makes up for the difficulties we have here on earth. Where sin once abounded, grace truly super-abounded! Where all seems lost, now all is found. Where once there was sin and death, now there is light and eternal life! And we don't have to wait till later to experience this resurrection life with God, because it has already started for us. We are experiencing eternal life right now, in fellowship with the Father and the Son, and there is nowhere to go but up from here! This is the life we were always meant to live, in union with Christ. For He Himself IS resurrection life, our true life, eternal life inside of us right now, endless life that we take partake of in the heavenlies right now! Isn't He so wonderful?
"And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him]."
1 John 5:11 (AMP)
"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life."
Colossians 3:3-4 (MSG)
A Prayer: Show me the reality of the eternal, resurrection life I have in You!