"Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you." Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up." Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time." "You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" (John 11:21-26 MSG)

"Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent." (John 17:1-3 MSG)

"This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion." (1 John 5:11-13 MSG)

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Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

It's a God quality of life

Not length of days

It's what I received

When I put faith in Christ

Inviting Him to dwell in me

Immediately baptised in the Spirit of Christ

Right here, right now

In the sweet here and now

================&&&&&====================

Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

"Now, we have eternal life", His word declares

I am now, a new creation in Christ

The old is gone, the new is here

As He is, so am I in this world

Now, I am a child of God

Manifesting His life

As I live on this earth

In the sweet here and now

================&&&&&====================

Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

Relationship with the Most High

Made possible by my new nature

The spirit of life in Christ

A new and living way, opened by His blood

I find pleasure in His presence

Without guilt or fear

As I bask in it, right here

In the sweet here and now

================&&&&&====================

Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

Knowing Him, as He knows me

Growing in intimacy

He can into me see

I can into Him see

To see as I am seen

A love that lasts forever

Starting right here

In the sweet here and now

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Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

He waited all eternity for this

A family in His love

Currently spanning heaven and earth

He starts now to lavish His grace on me

Later He will get us all together in one place

To enjoy fellowship without end

Starting right now

In the sweet here and now

================&&&&&====================

Eternal life, it starts now

Not in the sweet by and by

A lot has been said about the long wait

To see our mansions and walk the streets of gold

Where all pain will cease and the light will shine bright

All in the sweet by and by

The true beauty of heaven, is the one, who dwells therein

The very lover of our souls

Take heaven off hold

Start enjoying it, this side of heaven

In the sweet here and now

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Selah