Calendar

THE COMFORT OF ETERNITY
LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 30
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Revelation 21:4

 

“…so shall we ever

be with the Lord.”

 

THE COMFORT OF ETERNITY
 
The final stanza of John Newton’s famous hymn “Amazing Grace” has a beautiful description of eternity:
 
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.
 
This is a thought that surpasses human comprehension for we are beings locked in time. We count our moments in minutes, hours, days, years. That has always been our human experience. However, once eternity begins, it will be different. We do not have to number our days anymore, for we will live forever, eternally in the presence of God and His saints.
 
This is an especially meaningful comfort in light of the sorrow that some of the Thessalonian Christians were experiencing because of the death of their loved ones. Amid their grief, they could look forward to a day when there will be no more death, sorrow, tears or pain, for these former things are passed away (Rev 21:4). In eternity, we shall all be reunited and there will no longer be the anguish of parting. In our resurrected bodies, there is no sin and therefore no punishment of death. Much more than that, we can enjoy perfect communion with God. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev 21:3). These were thoughts that Paul shared in order that they might comfort one another with these words.
 
How about for us? Is this the eternal comfort of hope that you look forward to? Is the thought of spending eternity with God in heaven something that fills you with great peace, assurance and joy? If we truly believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification, then surely, we are assured of our eternal salvation. We will know that our time on earth is but a temporary sojourn. We are just pilgrims passing through, and our eternal dwelling place is in heaven with God.
 
THOUGHT: Knowing there is a definitive and imminent end, how then should I live?
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for the wonderful hope of eternity that Thou hast promised!

Search