Eternal Life 101

We tend to think this life is a test and we want to get the test right and Heaven is our reward for passing the test. But, what does the Bible actually say?

In John 17:2-3, eternal life is the knowledge of God -- having a relationship with God. Eternal life is not a destination, it's a relationship. 

God meets us where we're at to take us where He is. God accommodates us -- probably more than we know. 

God is redeeming Creation. Creation will be liberated from death and decay (Romans 8:19-21). 

God's authority over Creation is being restored. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). 

God is reconciling with people. Christ came to reconcile us and re-establish our relationship with God (Col. 1:20). 

We have eternal life now but we experience the fullness of that relationship in Heaven. 

The new creation is the redeemed creation when the influence of evil is no longer a part of the order of things. 

Eternal life grows within us and prepares us for Heaven. Rather like C. S. Lewis' idea in The Great Divorce. 

When we die we enter God's presence in a disembodied state (2 Corinthians 5:6). Hellfire is figurative.