One would suppose that every member of the church in Ephesus already had partaken of the Tree of Life. It is believed commonly that once we accept Christ as our Savior we possess eternal life and that no more is required of us concerning gaining eternal life.

It is true that we are touched with eternal life the moment we truly receive Christ Jesus, placing our faith in Him. But the Scripture teaches plainly that we are to be seeking eternal life after we are saved. The pursuit of life, of the victorious resurrection from the dead, is a lifelong quest.

Every day eternal death and eternal life struggle for dominion over us. The conqueror is the one who chooses life as he makes his decisions throughout each day of his discipleship.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:12)

We understand that the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to resurrection life and few people actually find life. Christ Jesus is the Way. As we follow Him He leads us into all Truth, which is Christ Himself. As we obey the truth we partake of and grow in eternal Life, which again is Christ Himself.

The moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we pass from death to life. We are forgiven our sins, through the blood of the Lamb, and we come at that moment into right standing with God. At the time of our receiving of Christ, who Himself is eternal Life and the resurrection from the dead, eternal life is born in us.

When we receive Christ we receive the authority to escape the wrath of God and to become a son of God. However, eternal life is more than escape from Divine wrath. Eternal life is Divine Substance. We receive Divine Virtue and Substance when we first accept Christ. From then on we are to be living in, acting in, speaking in, thinking in, and in every manner cultivating the eternal life that is in us.

Our fleshly nature always is competing for first place in our affections. Our sinful, self-centered nature resists being removed from the throne of our life. We conquer the world, Satan, and our sinful, self-centered nature by continuing to partake daily of the "tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." This tree is the Lord Jesus Himself.

As we conquer we are brought to the Tree of Life. As we partake of the Tree of Life we are enabled to conquer yet further. As we keep the Word of God the Word of God begins to keep us. We ascend into the fullness of the power of Christ's resurrection.

Paul was seeking to know and experience the power of Christ's resurrection. We are to do the same. Each day of our Christian discipleship we are to be living and acting in the Spirit of life.

Eternal life and eternal death are struggling for mastery over us. If we choose to live and act in the lusts of our flesh, in spiritual death, the Divine Life that is in us will be shoved aside. The Divine Life eventually will leave and the new creation that has been begun in us will die because of the loss of life.

The conqueror overcomes, through Christ, all opposition from the world, from his fleshly nature, and from Satan in his pursuit of eternal life. In so doing he attains a victorious resurrection. The Divine Life of Jesus, who Himself Is the Resurrection and the Life, is formed in him.

If we become filled with Christ, when He appears we will shine as part of the brightness of His appearing.

If we choose to live in the flesh we will reap corruption. We will succeed in preventing our resurrection to glory. Let us be found among those who lay hold on eternal life. (from The Conqueror)