Can We Live Forever?

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Dexu Xia

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Jan 1, 2026, 7:24:15 PMJan 1

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When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered. Acts 17:32

Today's Scripture Acts 17:29-34

Today's Insights Acts 17 shows how Paul did all he could to share the good news of Jesus. Being Jewish, when in Athens he naturally engaged with the Jewish people and “God-fearing Greeks” who frequented the synagogue (v. 17). But he also went to “the marketplace” each day, where he met with “Epicurean and Stoic philosophers” (vv. 17-18). These two groups saw life very differently and gathered to debate those differences. Yet Paul sought common ground with them (vv. 22-23), creating a basis to tell them about the God who “gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (v. 25). Our task is the same like Paul, to share the truth of the gospel with those who’ll listen and then pray that the Spirit will draw them to Christ

Today's Devotional It is risky to venture into the comments section of online news sites. Risky, but fascinating. Commenting on an interview with a millionaire endeavoring to live forever in this life, one reader posted this from Matthew 16:25: “ ‘Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’ —Jesus.” Reacting to that comment, another reader posted, “Wasn’t there a book written about Him?” To which a third reader replied, “Yes, fiction.”

There are always those who will mock belief in Jesus. When the apostle Paul stood in a public forum to tell a large group of Athenians about Christ, results were mixed. “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered” (Acts 17:32). Others, however, said, “We want to hear you again on this subject” (v. 32). And some believed (v. 34).

How others respond to the truth of the Bible is between them and God. But it’s the claim that we can live forever in this life that’s fiction. Our bodies are destined to die. In contrast, the Bible tells us of the one who is “the way and the truth and the life” ，the only one who is able to bring us into eternal life (John 14:6). Like Paul, it’s our task to share with anyone who will listen what this Man has done for us. We can trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

Reflect & Pray

How do you feel when others mock your faith? Why is it important to let them know what you believe about Jesus? Dear Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ who conquered death for me. I pray for those who don’t believe in You, that Your Spirit will draw them to You. By Tim Gutafson

我们能永远活着？

“当他们听到死人复活的事时，有些人就讥笑他。（使徒行传 17:32）

今日经文：使徒行传 17:29-34

今日洞见：使徒行传第17章展现了保罗如何竭尽全力传扬耶稣的福音。作为犹太人，他在雅典时自然而然地与犹太人和那些经常去会堂的“敬畏上帝的希腊人”交往（17节）。但他每天也去“市集”，在那里遇到“伊壁鸠鲁派和斯多葛派的哲学家”（17-18节）。这两个群体对人生有着截然不同的看法，并聚集在一起辩论这些分歧。然而，保罗竭力寻求，要找到与他们信仰的共同点（22-23节），以此为基础，向他们讲述那位“赐生命、气息和万物给众人”的上帝（25节）。就像保罗一样，我们的任务是找到我们与那些愿意倾听者的共同点，然后与他们分享福音的真理，并祈求圣灵引导他们归向基督。

今日灵修 浏览网络新闻网站的评论区是有风险的，同时，也是引人入胜。一位读者在评论一篇关于一位百万富翁试图在今生活到永远的采访时，引用了马太福音 16:25 的经文：“耶稣说，凡想要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。”另一位读者对此评论回应道：“不是有一本关于耶稣的书吗？”第三位读者回复说：“是的，那是虚构的。”

总会有人嘲笑对耶稣的信仰。当使徒保罗站在公共场合向一大群雅典人讲述基督时，结果喜忧参半。“当他们听到死人复活的事时，有些人就讥笑他”（使徒行传 17:32）。然而，另一些人说：“我们想再听你讲这事”（32节）。还有一些人信了保罗所说的（34节）。

别人如何回应圣经的真理，是他们与上帝之间的事情。但声称我们可以在今生活到永远才是虚构的。我们的身体注定会死亡。相比之下，圣经告诉我们，有一位是“道路、真理、生命”（约翰福音 14:6），祂是唯一能领我们进入永生的救主。就像保罗一样，我们的使命是与所有愿意倾听的人分享这位救主为我们所做的一切。我们可以相信圣灵会成就其余的一切。

反思与祷告 当别人嘲笑你的信仰时，你有什么感受？为什么让他们知道你对耶稣的信仰如此重要？亲爱的天父，我感谢祢的儿子耶稣基督，祂为我战胜了死亡。我为那些不信祢的人祷告，愿祢的圣灵引领他们归向祢。