ETERNITY & HEAVEN

The word eternity has been used by people since the creation of man, but very few truly understand its meaning. Most look at eternity as something out there, beyond our comprehension.

It is something that will take place at a future time, therefore we shelve the word and go on with our everyday lives not really wanting to know what it means.

The common belief is that (whatever eternity is), it goes on forever and has no end. That is true, but there is more to it than that; as eternity, in addition to having no end, has no beginning!

With our finite minds, we can’t understand this concept because everything we know of has a beginning whether it be a plant, animal, human, even rocks are carbon dated revealing that they too had a beginning millions of years ago.

There is only One who has no beginning and no end…and that, of course, is God Almighty….El Shaddai. Therefore, God always was.

Because we have a beginning, when we receive Jesus as Savior, Lord and Master, He offers us the privilege of entering into His already existent life, i. e. eternal life!

It was Jesus that made all this possible. He is not only the Son of God but partaker in all of creation and it is He that makes it possible to enter into eternal life……a life with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

"And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11.

From the moment of our conception, we will all live eternally, either in heaven or hell. The Lord has given us that choice. You might say, "what choice has He given us?" By not choosing Him, we choose hell by default.

Romans 1:19, 20 "..because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

Our loving God does not send anyone to hell, it is his/her choice. In the book of Acts 13:46, (paraphrased), Paul states "the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life…"

Jesus came to earth to pay our debt. He died in our place. He exchanged His life for yours and mine.

Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

God alone made it possible for us to be seen as perfect in His eyes because Jesus lives in us, and we live in Jesus, therefore, when the Father sees us, He sees us through Jesus, the Perfect One.

Human nature is to do good works to enter heaven. It is an instinct that weighs our good works against our bad, like a scale of justice, hoping that the good will outweigh the bad.

If you have done more good than bad, you might make it. That scale has nothing to do with salvation or eternity.

As man tries to complicate salvation and eternal life, he feels that his works are an important contribution to salvation. You can’t be good enough on your own, nor can you work hard enough, nor can you be diligent enough. God did it all!

"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." Ephesians 2:8, 9 (NLT).

"Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me…." Jeremiah 9:23, 24 (NAS).

In the Old Testament, King Solomon writes:

Ecclesiastes 3:11, "…He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…" (NIV).

We all have a sense deep inside that something more awaits us. It is similar to the feeling you get whenever you have been on a trip or a vacation.

It is always wonderful to see and experience new and different things; but, no matter where you’ve been, there is no place like home. Having this feeling innate in us, we will never feel fully satisfied in this life. Nothing will ever quite measure up.

Of course, we have all enjoyed moments where everything seemed to be just perfect, and you feel in your heart that, "I want it to be this way always". But, the moment always ends.

In a sense, in those few seconds or minutes, you have received a glimpse of eternity, a taste of the bliss you will experience one day in glory. Until that day comes, you will always feel homesick for heaven.

The Lord God Almighty has invited us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. You are the apple of His eye! He has stood outside the door of your heart and knocked.

When you opened the door and invited Him in, you opened the door to "eternal life". Jesus, who is Eternal Life said,

"I am the door".

1. Eternity has no end and no beginning.

2. According to Scripture in the text, there is only One who has no beginning and no end and that is…….

3. Does God send murderers, adulterers, kidnappers, pedophiles and all bad people to hell?

4. How do people get to spend eternity in hell?

5. Where in Scripture does it say, “they are without excuse”?

6. How long have God’s invisible attributes been clearly seen?

7. How can we access eternal life?

8. How many Scriptures speak of man boasting?

9. Who wrote, ”He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…”?

10. When you enjoy moments where everything seemed to be perfect, that is ……

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