Immortal and Mortal and Eternal Life

 

To those who declare that God is dead, the Word of God answers with evidence that He is not. It uses many different words with much conviction of His eternal grace and never-ending power. One of those words is IMMORTAL, used only two times in English and those same two times speak of God. The word also appears as imperishable and when translated that way, it means the same thing: not being subject to breaking down (and thus lasting forever).

That definition bring thoughts of my mortality and how I often say, “She’s breaking up” when suffering the aches and pains that accompany getting older and less able to function well. God is not like that. I could say of Him that He is “forever young” or ageless.

The first passage to use this description of God compares Him to idols . . .

Romans 1:18–23. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

This Word from the Lord says that His nature is made plain in His creation; no one can say ‘God is dead’ or dishonor Him as eternal and divine. Yet that happens, and those who do it are condemned for it. The passage goes on to say that God gives them up to the “lusts of their hearts” because they “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” and worship creatures rather than the Creator. This passage does not use the word ‘evolution’ even though that could fit as the ‘lie’ believed that replaces God.

The point is, God is eternal, lives forever, immortal. Nothing He created can fit that description except those who put their faith in His Son and are given His life . . .

Romans 8:11. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

For this reason, we who believe in Jesus honor Him as Savior and Lord of our lives. As Paul wrote in His letter to a young pastor in 1 Timothy 1:17:

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. I cannot fully understand eternity nor grasp the full significance of immortality, but I do know this; the One who lives forever is worthy of honor for that alone, yet He is more than eternal and immortal — He loves me and that love is also eternal, a forever love. He is gracious and kind and every other word that is said about Him — and believing that enables me to give Him honor and glory forever and ever.