Eternity
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11. NKJV (Emphasis added).
Do you think much about eternity? Heaven? Hell? The transition from here to there?
The word eternity in our text, is also translated in other parts of the Bible as everlasting, perpetual, evermore, always, long. It’s the Hebrew word ‘owlam, and means long duration, antiquity, futurity, forever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, continuous existence, unending future, eternity.
We’re not the only group of people who believe in life after death. Most people do. Most religions have an afterlife doctrine. No wonder mankind thinks this way, because God put that awareness there.
In the short space of the last two years, I have lost three good friends. Maurizio my Italian friend (who made the most delicious coffee I have ever tasted), an amazing Bible teacher, loved the Word, and was sold out for the Kingdom of God is now with the King. Hazel, who lived life with colour, class, courage and solid faith, is now enjoying her inheritance. John, who often said just pray about it! He’s been promoted and is now in the presence of the One he loved and served.
It makes you stop and think and ponder about these things when someone you love passes into eternity.
Have you thought about that state you and I are in, where we will have continuous existence? We will exist…, forever!
But the thing is — and I am guilty as charged in this — we get so involved and focused, so burdened by our troubles, that we find it hard to lift our eyes up from the temporal to things which in reality are much more permanent.
We need to understand that even our pains and problems, our trials and troubles, are doing something good for us. Something long lasting. Something eternal.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18. NKJV.
Look how the J B Phillips version puts it;
We wish you could see how all this is working out for your benefit, and how the more grace God gives, the more thanksgiving will redound to his glory. This is the reason why we never collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18. J B Phillips.
Notice there is says;
- Little troubles.
- So transitory.
- Are winning for us a permanent.
- Solid reward out of proportion to our pain.
- Visible things are transitory.
- Invisible things that are really permanent.
Wow! That is some serious perspective on human Christian living right there!
Pain is a preparation. The visible is…, actually temporary. The invisible is…, actually permanent. What we see is temporary. What we don’t see is eternal. The pain and troubles we face are real and significant, but, according to the Apostle Paul are preparing us for something far more glorious and out of proportion to the pain!
Maybe some of us need a little time for the revelation of that truth to soak in a bit deeper.
Eternity! It’s a long time. It is forever.
Special people in our lives has just given us the good news that they have a baby on the way. Very exciting. Their first. That little child, one moment it wasn’t, then boom! It is! Complete with a personality, gifts, talents, hair colour, and an eternity! That child, though not yet born, will live forever! My thrill in this news is that both parents love and honour the Lord and live for His purposes. This child will grow up knowing parental love but also the love of God. There’s every chance and confidence that he or she will chose to love and serve the Lord on earth, and one day live with Him in glory forever!
We read in John 14:6 how Jesus came to provide a way to the Father. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6. NKJV. Jesus is the way, but the Father is the destination! Wow! A “Way” only has meaning if it leads to a destination. Yes, Jesus’ ministry is crucial and never to be undervalued. (And I’m passionate about His work at the Cross, I believe we all need to know more about the whole truth and be more thoroughly acquainted with the purpose, the reason, blessings and doctrine of the Cross and the Blood of Jesus). So Jesus is the Way. The Father is the Destination. And the Spirit is the Confirmation.
A journey is much more enjoyable when you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there.
Lets by all means celebrate the way, and worship Jesus who is the way. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to be our Saviour. That, is worth celebrating. Let’s also understand that this life is temporary and short, and that the Lord is using it to prepare us for eternity. God loves us deeply! He is preparing us, equipping us and fashioning us, to rule and reign with Him, for ever and ever and ever!
Eternity. With Jesus. Forever. That’s where we’re headed! Wow!
