John 17:3 is one of my favorite passages. It tells us what heaven is. Eternal life is this: knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who He sent. That’s what it is. This is a future thing, yes, but it’s also a now thing.  A professor called this a not but not yet thing. We experience foretastes of heaven but not the fullness. One day, we’ll know the fullness, but not yet. So, today, in this moment, you can know eternal life. 

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Good morning! It’s a joy to be here with you on this beautiful Thursday. Normally, I’d take today off, but I’m in the office because Thomas and I have an exciting trip tomorrow—we’re off to Auburn for an official school visit to look at their aviation department. As an Ole Miss fan, I’m conflicted, but my love for my son outweighs all. So, tomorrow’s Rooted will go on, just with a bit of a modified schedule.

Today, we’re exploring one of the Bible’s profound chapters—John 17, specifically verses 1 through 5. This passage offers a glimpse into the heart of Jesus as he prays for the church. He speaks of glorification, the eternal nature of his connection with the Father, and the essence of eternal life. Jesus asks, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you,” and in doing so, he shows his desire to bring God glory, fulfilling his mission and sharing divine love with humanity.

In this prayer, Jesus mentions the work God gave him to accomplish on earth and speaks to the eternal relationship within the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit have always existed together; they were not created but are three distinct persons who share one divine nature. Though the Trinity can be complex, it is central to understanding Jesus’s role in our salvation and God’s nature.

Jesus describes eternal life as knowing the “only true God” through him. This view shifts our understanding of eternal life from merely a future state to a present reality, rooted in a relationship with God. Heaven, then, isn’t simply streets of gold or pearly gates. It’s the presence of God. Heaven is heaven because God is fully there, and hell is hell because of God’s absence. So, when we think of heaven, it’s about the presence of God rather than just the place.

Here’s the beauty: eternal life starts now. Every encounter with God’s grace, every moment we feel his presence, and every act of kindness or worship is a “foretaste” of heaven. When we gather in worship, read scripture, feel God’s peace in prayer, or serve others in his name, we’re experiencing pieces of the eternal. Like small “cupcakes” that point to the full “cake” of eternity, these moments in our lives bring us closer to God’s heart and heaven’s reality.

One day, Revelation tells us, God will live fully among us, wiping away every tear, removing death, and ending all pain. That complete presence will be like a full sheet cake of heaven’s joys! But until that day, these “cupcake” moments—each experience of God’s love and grace—are precious glimpses of what’s to come.

So today, friends, I pray you’ll feel a foretaste of heaven. In each blessing and every grace-filled moment, may you sense God’s love and peace, embracing eternal life here and now. Thanks for being here, and tomorrow, we’ll continue our journey through John, picking up with verses 6 through 19. Have a blessed day!