The Age of Life vs. the Age of Death

Humanity’s journey begins with the creation of mortal beings from the very dust of the earth. God placed our ancestors in a pristine garden where they were granted the privilege of partaking in a unique form of existence, symbolized by the Tree of Life. This tree offered them a life unto the age – a life that transcended the constraints of mortality and decay. (Genesis 2:7-9)

However, a pivotal moment in this narrative occurs when our forebears choose to eat from the tree of knowing good and evil. This decision marked their exile from life unto the age, ushering them into the age of death, a realm fraught with the consequences of their newfound knowledge. (Genesis 3:1-7)

As we delve further into the pages of the Bible, we encounter a recurring theme that shapes humanity’s choices. It’s a choice between two distinct ages: the age of life, which we often attempt to define on our terms, and the age of God’s life. This struggle unfolds throughout the biblical story, as we see in accounts such as the story of Cain and Abel and the rampant wickedness before the Flood. (Genesis 4:1-8, Genesis 6:5)

God, in His infinite grace, promises a way back to life unto the age. This promise takes a remarkable form in the person of Jesus Christ, who is portrayed as God’s own life made flesh. He straddles both the age of mortality and death and the age of eternal life simultaneously. (John 1:1-3, John 1:14, Colossians 2:9)

Jesus provides people with access to life unto the age through a deep and personal knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) Although Jesus was rejected and crucified, His resurrection from the dead allowed Him to extend God’s life to those who trust in Him. (John 3:16)

Eternal life, as depicted in the Bible, is not merely a future reality. Jesus stands as the meeting point between the age of God’s life and the age of death. Those who trust Him can experience eternal life here and now. (1 John 5:11-12, 1 John 5:20)

However, we must not forget that we still reside in the age of death. When our mortal lives end, those in Jesus will continue to live in God’s eternal life. (Romans 6:8, Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 21:1-5)

The Bible’s narrative unfolds this profound choice between the age of life and the age of death. It is a timeless struggle that has shaped humanity’s spiritual journey and continues to challenge us today. The story is a reminder of God’s unwavering love and the opportunity to choose life in the present and eternity.

‌~PW 🌮🛶