The Bible talks about eternal life in more than one sense: There is the eternal life now which is already possessed and being taken hold of by persevering believers, and there is the eternal life hoped for in heaven. They are obviously interconnected.

Eternal Life As A Current Reality: (1 John 5: 11, 13)
This refers to the possession of the eternal kind of life in the spirit of the believer while we currently dwell in vessels of clay (our physical bodies) on earth.

Apart from the mere possession of this spiritual nature, the responsibility of each believer is to take hold of the essence of this life while still living on earth. (1 Timothy 6: 12) This is done via the process of sanctification. The living out of the already present nature of eternal life which we received free, is to be apprehended by pursuing sanctification (Romans 6: 22) It is a gracious reward from God to be reaped by the diligent believer of faith who lives a life of sowing to the Spirit, which is the sanctification process. (Galatians 6: 8) Therefore, this eternal life does not abide in anyone who does not dwell in sanctification, such as murderers (1 John 3: 15) (and any other who wilfully live in sin) Eventually, this gift is perfected in heaven.

Eternal Life As A Future Hope (Jude 21; Titus 3: 7; Mark 10: 30)
This refers to the practical experience of everlasting existence in heaven in direct fellowship with God. This is the sure hope of everyone who has received eternal life here on earth according to the promise of God.

What we must bear in mind is that whether now or in the future, eternal life is characterised by knowing God in trinity. (John 17: 3) The defining prerequisite for eternal life is to know God as the Father and the Son, and, of course the Holy Spirit.

- Now, while we are in the world, this knowledge of God comes by a special "seeing" of God's word as imparted to our heart after we have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. (John 3: 16) Nobody can properly know God by his personal efforts. It is God who will reveal the knowledge of Himself to everyone who seeks Him. And this seeking is fulfilled only in Jesus Christ who is THE Way.

- When we get to heaven, the knowledge takes a more direct form whereby each believer then sees God as He is, face-to-face, dwelling in His presence forever.

Needless to say, whoever does not have eternal life abides in eternal death. So, I ask you my reader, "Do you have eternal life now?"