In the fourth chapter of II Corinthians, Paul speaks of the Glory of God in the face of Christ.

Then Paul proceeds to tells us God's glorious Presence was communicated to other people through means of Paul's sufferings.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. (II Corinthians 4:8-12)

The preceding passage raises a question. The answer to the question will show us why the Christian discipleship is a way of patient, cross-carrying obedience and not a happy, get-everything-you-want, pleasant philosophy of life.

Before we present the question, and give the answer to the question, let us mention a task and also define eternal life.

Eternal life. The task was to give eternal life to the believers in Corinth.

Eternal life is the Glory of God, the Shechinah, the holy Life and Presence of the Almighty. It is Divine energy. It is Divine power.

"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."

The burning bush that Moses saw was eternal life.

Moses lived eighty days without food or water because he was in the Presence of the eternal Life of God.

The cloud and the fire were eternal life.

The Glory on the Tabernacle and inside the Most Holy Place were eternal life.

Eternal life filled the Temple of Solomon until the priests could not stand and minister.

Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights in the strength of the eternal Life of God.

Eternal life is given to the conqueror, God's warrior, in the form of "hidden manna," and he then is able to overcome every adversary, every obstacle.

Eternal life created the earth, the other planets, the sun and moon, the stars.

Eternal life raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.

Eternal life is righteousness, joy, love, peace, the ability to perform one's will in the Presence of Christ.

Where there is sin there is the absence of eternal life.

Whoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (I John 3:15)

Satan and the demons have energy but it is not the energy of God. It is a dark, proud, lustful, violent energy devoid of righteousness, without joy, love, or peace.

Human beings have physical energy that results from the burning of oxygen. But physical energy is negligible compared to the energies in the spirit realm. All that physical energy accomplishes is to hold us upright, as it were, while we choose between Divine Life and satanic life. Physical life is inconsequential and soon leaves the body, with the result that the body returns to the dust from which it was formed. The flesh profits nothing.

To be continued.