Paradise Present
Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3). Knowing God and knowing Christ is the essence of eternal life. It is not just the path, but the thing itself. You and I do not have to wait to enjoy the bliss and benefit of the afterlife. The very word “afterlife” loses something when you consider the true meaning of eternity. Eternal life, therefore, incorporates both here and hereafter, an inexplicable mingling of the two. They become bound together in Christ, who is our Paradise present, that is, here, now, and always.
