There is a conceptual difference between "everlasting" life and "eternal" life. As believers united to Christ by faith, we have everlasting life because we participate in the eternal life of God. Allow me to explain.

Everlasting life is life that begins at a certain point and continues on forever. It could be diagrammed in the following manner:

X------------------->

Eternal life is life that has no beginning and no ending. It is the life of God, the great I AM. It is diagrammed in the following manner:

<-------------------------------------->

When you compare the two, it is easy to see that the we have "everlasting life" (diagram 1) because we participate in the "eternal life" of God through faith in Christ.

God's life
<-------------------------------------->
is the foundation for our life
X-------------------->

This life is found in Christ, who is life Himself. Through faith in Christ we share in the life of God (eternal life) and thus experience everlasting life.

• "...and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us. (1 John 1:2)
• "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." (1 John 5:11-12)

In short, we all struggle with our own individual burdens, struggles, and trials. These difficulties are unique to our personal experiences. But we all collectively must deal with the greatest test of our faith, the biggest problem we all face, namely, the undeniable reality that we all must die one day.

Thank the Lord that our greatest problem--death--has been remedied by the life God offers us in Christ. We begin to experience this life through faith. We will ultimately enjoy the fullness of this life on the great day of resurrection, when the life we have in Christ climaxes in the transformation of our bodies into resurrection bodies--bodies that are incorruptable, imperishable, and immortal.

• "For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'" (1 Cor. 15:53-55)

This is what we celebrate on Easter. Death does not have the final word because the life of God (eternal life) has made it possible for us to experience everlasting life. This is the basis for our hope. This is what sustains us in all our individual burdens, struggles and trials.

• "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58)

Be encouraged. All you do in Christ, no matter how full of toil and difficulties, has eternal significance! This is so, because death is not the final word--life is!