I was discussing eternity with some people the other day and I don’t think most of us can grasp the concept. Eternity is forever.
Forever: for all future time; for always. without ever ending; eternally: without cessation or intermission; unceasingly.
So the average lifespan for us is 79.9 years and I will be 70 on Sunday.
Most folks would say: Yikes!
Not me because I know that there is no cessation of life and to be away from this old body is to be present with the Lord in my new glorified and perfected body. We were created to live forever. The only question is where will we spend our forever. The Bible states that we will spend it in heaven, described as paradise where there will be no sadness, weeping, sickness, tears or pain, or in hell described by Jesus as a place of unquenchable torment where there will be constant darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
80 years is infinitesimally short when compared to forever, but our lives on this planet are vitally important. God desires that no one should perish and go to hell; however, He gave each of us a free will to accept or reject His Son Jesus and according to God’s word the only way to live forever in paradise is to accept God’s free gift of Jesus as our Savior.
Seems simple but so many are headed to hell. The Bible teaches in Mat.7:13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” The narrow gate is Jesus Christ.
Likewise, there is only one thing that we can bring from this life into heaven. These would be the good works that we perform to build God’s kingdom. Things like helping the poor, caring for the sick and visiting those in hospitals, visiting those who are in prison, helping the downtrodden, and most importantly sharing the gospel and leading the lost to a relationship with Christ and discipling them.
Those things last forever and I believe affect our ability to enjoy heaven all the more.
It seems that all people would look at forever eternity and compare it to the vapor of life on planet earth and quickly understand where their priorities should be in receiving salvation and then working non-stop to do the work of God. So why don’t we all do it?
I dunno . . .
Psalm 102:25
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.
November 22 2016 – Click here to listen