Have you ever imagined living forever? I know that as a child, the idea scared me. I could not wrap my mind around living forever, and ever, and ever. I do not recall when it was, but I do remember one day accepting forever as beyond my ability to understand.
I remember a children’s song (I cannot recall who wrote it) that went something like this, heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I’m gonna see my savior’s face, oh heaven is a wonderful place, I wanna go there.
Heaven is a place that I cannot wrap my mind around. Streets of gold, massive structures with 12-foundations of precious metals, a huge river running through the middle of it, with trees lining either side producing a different fruit each month. There is no day, no night, no time, but lots of singing, shouting, and praising Jesus, God the Son.
Another thing that I am not able to wrap my mind around is living in eternity doing nothing but praising God. I cannot fathom doing anything else but singing, shouting, and praising God. I love singing praises to God, allowing myself to get lost in loving him and praising his name; I just can’t imagine doing anything else but that forever, and ever, and ever.
I could be wrong, but I do not believe so when I say, we—Christ-followers—the redeemed of the Lord, will be very busy about kingdom business, building growing, and expanding the kingdom of God. According to the New Testament book of Revelations, a New Jerusalem will come down from heaven to earth. There will be one thousand years of global peace. Do you think the earth is the only place that will be inhabited? Is it possible that the other planets will find their usefulness in eternity?
I do not know, but my mind could get wrapped up in countless possibilities. In fact, these possibilities can even cause me to—at least for a few moments—lose sight of the turmoil, and chaos that is running rampant throughout the world.
I bring this up because what if the time of the end of the age of grace is finally here? What if the words of Jesus to his disciples in the New Testament book of John are about to come true?
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:2-3
New International Version
What if this unexpected journey to a close personal relationship with the godhead is simply one last attempt of God the Holy Spirit to ready humanity to be with Jesus? You could say that there are so many things that you want to do, be, or accomplish, and you would be correct. What if these things are to be accomplished on the other side of eternity—the forever, and ever, and ever side.
These are just thoughts, not meant to scare anyone, but rather to cause a pause in the busyness of life and reflect on Him. I recall a Christian song that goes something like this. In your presence burdens roll away. In your presence troubles melt away. You do miracles, you do wonders, there is healing in your presence oh Lord. In other words, pause and think about him.
I am writing this because none of the things that I have previously written about have been resolved. Life has not become any easier. The world outlook resembles Hollywood movies, filled with hopelessness and despair. But, as a Christ-follower, there is hope, there is cause to have peace, and there is a forever happy place, because of Jesus.