Getting to Know Jesus by Name #20: Eternal Life

 I John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

This last chapter of  John's letter of encouragement to fellow believers reminds us of a few things we know we have in Christ. He begins in verse 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Then in verse 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. Next, in the two verses before ours: 18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We know that because of Christ God hears us, answers our prayers, and protects us from the enemy. So these things we know are bookended by knowing that Jesus is Eternal life.  Diann Cotton says eternal life means: "having infinite duration, everlasting; having no beginning and no end in time; living forever, continuing without intermission; perpetual; valid or existing at all times; timeless."  (100 Days with Jesus) When Jesus gives us eternal life, He is giving us Himself; He is taking us along for the ride with Him, and He doesn't want to take any idols along.  If we truly believe He is Eternal and the source of true life, we don't need any of that other stuff. We need Him.