When Would You Least Expect Him?

When Henry David Thoreau, the author of “Walden Pond,” was terminally ill, a friend tried to get him to express his thoughts on life-after-death. Thoreau replied, “One world at a time.” It is a great blessing to be able to live in one world at a time: to be able to live fully and completely in the present moment. It is a great blessing to realize that the very best way to prepare ourselves to die is to live fully and completely now.

The words “eternal life” obviously have a future reference, but not always. There are a great many Scripture passages in which the words “eternal life” have a present reference. For example, in the Old Testament, although the people already had an awareness of the importance of the past and of the future, nevertheless they were very much a “now” people. This is beautifully expressed in the 118th Psalm which opens up by acknowledging God’s Presence and His power and His love.…