Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

4 December 2025

Reading From I John 3

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

—I John 3:1-3

     Human beings are first born physically through the waters of their mother’s womb.  All those who have chosen to believe, repent, confess and receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord are born again of the Spirit of the Living God.  The sons of Adam and daughters of Eve are adopted through the new birth experience into the eternal family of God.  Once we were enemies of Him, and now we are friends, even more than friends, now we are His children and co-heirs with Christ Jesus. 

     There are many specific details about our destiny in the New Heaven and the New Earth that have not yet been revealed to us, but we have many clues throughout the Scriptures.  One such clue is found here in I John 3 in that when Christ appears we shall be like Him.  After Jesus was resurrected, He was able to visit His disciples, sitting with them, cooking for them, and eating with them and yet He was able to walk through walls.  His friends were able to feel the places where the nails went into His hands and yet He was able to ascend into Heaven.  We purify ourselves by accepting His atoning sacrifice.  We are washed spiritually clean in His blood.  We will be like Him. 

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the truth of Your resurrection and the hope it brings to us of our own resurrection when You return.  Helps us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received; the call to do what is right and to love others with the love You have graciously and generously poured into our hearts.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.

—I Corinthians 15:42