Your 2026 Mission

"...but have eternal life" 
John 3:16b (ESV)

 When does eternal life actually begin—at death or at belief?

Mickey Mantle was a legendary Yankees switch-hitter, baseball superstar, and by his own admission, a terrible role model. He was an alcoholic, a serial adulterer, and liver cancer brought him to his deathbed. 

Friend Bobby Richardson had witnessed to him for years with no success. But now, dying, Mickey told Bobby, "I've received Jesus Christ as my Savior." When Bobby's wife Betsy asked, "If you stood before God today and He asked, 'Why should I let you into heaven?' what would you say?" Mickey quoted these words exactly, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV) Signed, sealed, and delivered.

Micky knew that the words in this verse mean everything in the world to everyone in the world. But what Micky almost missed is that eternal life doesn't begin when you die. It begins when you believe. Notice the verse says "have eternal life"—present tense. Not "may have," "might have," or "will have." It’s right now. Jesus declared, "The one who believes has eternal life" (John 6:47b, NIV). Why wait until your final days to receive what God’s offering you right now?

When you truly grasp that you have eternal life now, you stop just surviving and start actually living. You have eternal life now. Walk in it. Experience it. Let it transform your Tuesday mornings and Friday nights, changing how you handle stress, have conflict, and make choices.

When eternal life fills you, it overflows. And that’s your 2026 mission. Eternal life isn't waiting for you at the end; it's available to you right now and through you to someone else. Who's the person in your life who needs to hear this verse? Maybe it’s a neighbor, family member, or coworker. 

Mickey had Bobby. Who do you have? God didn't give you eternal life just so you could hoard it. He gave it so you could share it. Make 2026 the year you receive this truth fully and give it away freely.

Prayer: Father, thank You that Your eternal life is a present reality. I receive it right now. Transform me from the inside so that I live today with eternity in mind. And Lord, show me my "one" for 2026—the person You want me to share this verse with. And give me the courage to speak to those who need to hear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.