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A Look At Eternity

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

In my fifty-plus years as a Christian, this writer has rarely heard anyone preach on the subject of eternity, nor have I read many bulletin articles on the subject. The reason being, is that the human finite mind just can’t conceive of an existence that lasts forever — with no end, and no beginning. How can we intelligently talk and write about a subject of which we have very little knowledge (cf. 2 Timothy 1:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54), and virtually have no experience of whatsoever? (cf. John 1:18; John 5:37; John 6:46). 

What Is Our Life? — James tells us that our life in this present time-based existence, is “short” in comparison with eternity (note the phrase “little time” in James 4:14). Peter writes, that in this time-based existence, our lives are similar to the grass that withers and the flower that falls away — our physical existence in this time-based realm is indeed “short” in comparison to eternity (1 Peter 1:24). Peter also tells us that time is of no consequence to the eternal God (2 Peter 3:8; cf. Psalm 90:4), the One who is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 41:13; Psalm 106:48). He lives and operates in an eternal realm — not based on time. As human beings in a time-based environment, can we really comprehend this fact?

The Eternal Nature Of God  —  We see the eternal nature of God in Christ, when our Lord, being a young man at the time, told the Jews that He knew Abraham in John 8:58. He told them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” They couldn’t believe what He was saying — they couldn’t grasp the concept of Christ being an eternal Being, nor could they grasp the concept of eternity either, so their last resort was to stone the Lord (John 8:59) — “out of sight, out of mind.”

Some Logical Conclusions Relative To Eternity — Looking at the above Scriptures and thoughts, what logical conclusions can we come to, relative to eternity?

  • That God has created a short-term environment here on earth, based on time — separate and apart from eternity — a testing ground for man (read the book of Job 1-42), designed to prepare him for that eternal realm of existence with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 1:22-23).
  • That man has an eternal soul (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45; cf. Matthew 10:28) — all of mankind being destined to leave this fleshly time-based environment (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 AMP; Hebrews 9:27), and put on immortality, not subject to physical death and decay (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54; cf. 2 Peter 1:13-14).
  • That because of sin, and man’s propensity to sin (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:23), God has provided the “way” [Jesus] (John 14:6; cf. Hebrews 9:7-15), and the means [Jesus’ blood] (cf. Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38 – note the phrase, “remission of sins“ in these verses), by which man does not have to spend his eternal existence in hell (Revelation 21:8; cf. Revelation 20:13-15), but in the eternal realm with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit (Revelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22).

A Question We Must Ask Ourselves  — The question we must ask ourselves as finite beings is, “Am I ready and prepared to dwell in that eternal realm that will never end?” (compare Matthew 25:1-10 with Luke 12:41-47 and note the words “ready” and “prepared”). If we are yet not “ready” and “prepared” to live in that eternal realm of existence with the Lord, we had best be “getting our [spiritual] house in order” (cf. 2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1). In order to do that, we must first “deny ourselves” of the world’s allurements (Matthew 16:24-27; Romans 12:1-2; cf. 1 John 2:15-17), and then be “willing” to comply with God’s salvation plan requirements, faithfully living our lives for Christ (Gal. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:20-21; 1 John 2:1-6), even in the face of impending death (Revelation 2:10; cf. Hebrews 11:24-40).

Conclusion:

Friends, let us today consider our spiritual condition (Luke 15:17), and then render appropriate obedience to our Lord and Savior while we are still living in our time-based environment here on earth — still able to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Remember that once we experience physical death (Hebrews 9:27), our eternal destiny will be forever sealed — there will be no changing of the mind once the “door [of opportunity] – Revelation 3:20-22 is shut” (cf. Matthew 25:10; Luke 16:19-31).

Let’s not continue to resist the Spirit and saints’ call to “Come …. And take the water of [eternal] life freely” (Revelation 22:17; cf. Revelation 22:1; Psalm 36:7-8; Psalm 46:4-5). Wouldn’t we rather enter into eternity to be in the presence of God — to forever live with Him (Ecclesiastes 12:7; 1 John 3:2; cf. Matthew 5:8; Psalm 16:11), than experience an eternal existence of pain, sorrow, suffering, and remorse? (Luke 16:22-28). Through a study of the above Scriptures relative to eternity (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV; Acts 17:11 KJV), our “choice” of “where” we want to spend that eternity should be crystal clear (Deuteronomy 30:19; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we first begun.” —John Newton

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