What Is Eternal Life?

I thought I would transfer a blog entry I wrote back on August 1, 2010, that I have always
found inspiratonal:

What is eternal life? It is an age old question that many human beings ask themselves and wonder every day. Many people imagine eternal life in Heaven as laying around on clouds all day, playing a beautifully constructed harp, and looking like a little cherub with wings. Eternal life in Hell is construed as a place that you fall into where you burn and are tortured for all of eternity. Eternity is never-ending so it is important to know when you leave your temporary home to face your final destination which realm you will spend your eternal life. Is it Heaven or Hell? I have been reading a book named "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper and he has definitely inspired me on this topic. In this world love is definitely distorted. Loving someone is how you can bring their self-esteem up or how you can make them feel better. Basically what someone can do for you.The love of God is definitely bigger, different, and more than that. He loved this world so much that he did not want the human nature to lead people to Hell when they died so He knew He had to do something. The only thing he could do is send His son, Jesus Christ (half mortal-half immortal), to the Earth to die for the sins of man. He took the burdens on himself when He was blameless and perfect. Poor Jesus did not do a thing wrong but he still had to endure so much punishment and pain that it was sickening. Had He not...we would die and go to Hell. God sent Jesus to die for us so that He might bring the nation to God-Himself. This is love...TRUE LOVE.
Excerpt from the book:
"But what is eternal life? Is it eternal self-esteem? Is it a Heaven full of mirrors? Or snowboards, or golf links, or black-eyed virgins? No. Jesus tells us exactly what He meant: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John17:3) What is eternal life? It is to know God and his Son, Jesus Christ. No thing can satisfy the soul. The soul was made to stand in awe of a Person-the only person worthy of awe. All heroes are shadows of Christ. We love to admire their excellence. How much more will we be satisfied by the one Person who conceived all excellence and embodies all skill, all talent, all strength, and brillance and savvy and goodness. God loves us by liberating us from the bondage of self so that we can enjoy knowing and admiring Him forever." --("Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper Pg. 35-36)
So, eternal life is knowing and being with God in Heaven. That's what it is all about! He satisfies every single nook and cranny of your being/ soul. Eternal life in Hell is not knowing God and being separated from Him. Because a life without God is definitely Hell in itself. It's like dying of thrist and your so close to the drinking hole but it's always just out of your reach. Your never able to quench your thirst for all of eternity. Very sad and definitely torture!