Yes, I have felt like something was going to take “forever” many times in my life. My 16th birthday followed by my 21st birthday and now my fortieth. All these days felt like “forever” away… but looking back they were only like fleeting moments. As I looked forward I didn’t think that they would ever come. As I look back, it seems like they came so fast.
With this in mind, how on earth am I supposed to understand what “forever” is going to look like? I get bored watching commercials. I listen to audiobooks at two times the normal speed. I tape everything I watch on TV so I can fast forward the commercials. I even brush my teeth in the shower to get more done at the same time! I am in a hurry and the concept of “forever” doesn’t play well into the heart of someone who is always in a hurry.
I can’t even wrap my mind around “forever”. In my mind I would get bored or fed up. Or maybe I would fall on my knees Alexander the Great… who Milton portrays like this:
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer.”
Is this what “forever” will drive me to? Is this what I’d become? Would I lose my edge? Would I still have purpose?
There is something different about the “forever” that I see when I think of God. It is a time that I wouldn’t want to rush through and a time that I would never want to end. It is the perfect fulfillment to everything that I long for or want or desire. It is exactly what I want and what I need.
I love how John put it. Listen to his words in 1 John 2:
“The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17
This is a comforting passage for me. When I watch the evening news of counsel someone who has experienced tragedy, my heart breaks. I often say to myself, “How could this happen?” or “God, where were you?” But, I need to remember the reality of forever.
God IS in control, even though I can’t see it sometimes. God DOES know what He is doing, even when I don’t. And, in the end, we’ll have eternity to talk about the WHY and the WHAT… however, I don’t think I’ll care much about it when I get to be with Him. It won’t matter when we experience this moment:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
This is the “forever” that I can’t wait to see. No more death… No more crying… No more horrific news headlines… No more heartbreaking stories without the reality of redemption. This is the kind of forever that I’m talking about.
Maybe you want to receive this kind of forever… you can. If you want to learn more, click here. If you are already on God’s path for your life, remind yourself of what is most important… HIM!
I put a Facebook post up recently which read… “How would your life change if you treated every day as an audition for eternity?” What about you? How would it change?
Join the conversation! Follow on Facebook or Twitter.
Sign up for the Newsletters here!
During the parade on Saturday I sat in a surrey with the Las Damas entry. Behind us in our group were 2 draft horses pulling a big wagon with several on board. The one horse started to act up. He had gotten his rigging caught and the bar that attached to it was sticking in his chest. I prayed so hard, as I was helpless to do anything, and a young woman with the local drawn carriage people went over and then 3 or 4 men came out of nowhere and worked together to untangle the equipment. This to me took forever and by the Grace of God a horrible wreck was avoided.