The Truth About Eternity
As long as we live here on earth, there comes a time when some questions about life keep surfacing and troubling us. We tend not to be satisfied or find comfort with the answers we already had, and want to go a bit more deeper. An interesting thing though is that the more we go deeper, the more we understand things better.
The results of man's search for a better understanding of life is quite obvious today as the world is no more what it used to be many years back. Man tend to have found some of the answers he wanted, but there is still more to search for. However, in man's quest to unravel the mysteries behind life, he thought the best way to get the answers he wants, is to keep God out of it. Old beliefs must be shut out!
But despite all the successes achieved, there's one issue man fears he just might not find the answers to: how to prove the Bible wrong in its entirety. The Bible is arguably the most misunderstood Book in the whole world. Not even all believers understand the Scriptures. It's uniqueness is what distincts it from any other book here on earth. It is the only Book that explains accurately the intelligent beginning of life and how we get to where we are today, and what lies ahead. It is the only Book that covers everything that concerns man and the things around him. Such amazing Book surely cannot be the words of men though written by men, but of God. Non of the writers at any point in time ever took credit for writing the books,but wrote as they were divinely instructed. Write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after these things." (Revelation 1:19). God chose to use man to communicate to man because He is too great for man to behold. Some times you wonder why God does the things He does, but a careful study will give you the answers you need.
Man's all time reason for rejecting God and choosing to live without Him, is lack of understand the actual cause of his problems even though he thinks he understands himself better, than what the Bible says about him. He does not understand why he knows the right thing, but most often does what he knows is wrong.
In this truth discovery study, we will be addressing one of the issues plaguing man, and which is solely responsible for man's choice of launching an independent search for an answer that could prove the Bible wrong thus gain freedom from fear of the unknown. His urge for freedom to do what he wants, how he wants, and when he wants, is been threatened by an ancient belief. He sees God as a dictator who is only after his own interests but not the interests of man. Why should he put man in hell for choosing to live his life the way he wants to? But then, can you program a robot making it independent of your control? No wonder people today, go wild because of freedom and independent from their maker. If man truly wants to be reasonable, he should have tried to understand why God gave him instructions on how to live, and the result of his disobedience which is the obvious troubles plaguing the world today without any certain hope of recovery.
The issue we'll be looking at is the question of what lies after death. It is a serious issue because it's like pippin into the unknown. The truth is, only a person who experienced death and return back to life can answer this question. But then, who has ever died and returned back to life to tell us what he saw? Even if he does returns, who will believe his report? Can a mere assumption on what lies after death makes us comfortable as though it's undoubtedly true? Would you rather believe a mere man who says life ends in death, or the Bible which says death is only a transition into yet another life? Well I choose not to believe man hence man's sole purpose for rejecting the Bible is his discomfort with the fear of the unknown as revealed in the Bible, not because he can actually prove the Bible wrong.
Now having laid a background for this study, I will therefore go into the main issue which is "Eternity ". Eternity simply means infinite or without an end.
The Bible did not hide anything from us,but rather,made it clear that something lies ahead of us. Jesus Christ came for this purpose; to reveal the truth on the reality that lies before us and the way out. While on earth, He made it emphatically clear that eternity exists and can be spent in two places which is either Heaven or Hell. He said,"Then he (God) will say to those on his right,"Come,you who are blessed by my Father,inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."
Then he will turn to those on the left and say,'Away with you,you cursed ones,into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.'"" (Matthew 25:34,41). The Bible also says,"And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,in flaming fire,bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction,forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). There are many other Scriptures of the Bible that also speak of eternal life (in heaven),and eternal destruction (in hell).
From the revelations in the Scripture, it is clear that nobody can escape eternity, but it is possible to escape spending it in the wrong place (in hell), with Jesus Christ being the only way. He said,"I am the way,the truth,and the life. No one can come to the Father (in heaven) except through me.". (John 14:6)
The belief of the existence of eternity isn't meant to scare people as it is not only about hell, but also and most importantly about heaven. We were created to live in fellowship with God and enjoy life forever, but sin came in and spoiled everything. But it's not all over though as God out of love restored our broken relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. He did this so that we may be with Him and experience true life. But then, where else can one be if he rejects eternity with God? But why would someone reject a world more glorious than this trouble ravaged world? On a serious note, everyone would surely prefer heaven.
It is important to know that when it comes to the issue of eternity, our opinions don't really matter hence we can neither prove the existence or non existence of eternity without a first hand experience. And the worst thing to do, is to assume eternity does not exist. Eternity is a certain reality we must all come to experience through death in the body after which we will stand judgment. The Bible says, "And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment." -Hebrews 9:27. It is the judgment that reveals where our final eternal home would be.
However, despite the beauty, glory and perfection of the eternal life God promised us through His Son Jesus Christ, sin made us loose sight of this better life. Though we all want a better life, but our sinful nature is against the better life we all yearn for. It makes us live as if we aren't interested in a life far more better than the one we currently live.
The devil has blinded our eyes from seeing the beauty and glory of the place he once lived before his fall. He does not want us to even imagine it as if it never existed. Instead, he does a lot of work polishing this life with the hope of fooling us into thinking it's all we have. Unfortunately, his trick seem to be working! Today, people are living as if death does not exist. They are after the best this life has to offer at the expense of their lives which is of greater value than what they are exchanging it for here on earth. But then, Jesus asked, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul (in hell)? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:26). So are you really convinced in your spirit that this life is all you have and that there's no other? If yes, then you are one of the devil's victims.
Dear friends, our lives are eternal because it's God's breathe in us. Since God is eternal, anything that comes out of Him is also eternal. Therefore our lives are eternal because it came from Him. And God's purpose for giving us this endless life is not to suffer in hell, but to be with Him. Hell is not meant for us but the devil and his loyalists; "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!" (Matthew 25:41). You see, it's not for you. But if you follow the path of the devil, you'll also end up with him and his loyalists in the same place.
In conclusion, it's important you know where you stand. Eternity is a certain experience, and being afraid of it does not change the reality at hand. But the greatest good you can do to yourself is to make peace with God by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God's constant anger." (John 3:36) and after which you must continue to walk with Him in obedience till the day you finally depart from this life to be with Him in Heaven. "Therefore, now that you have accepted Christ as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. " (Colossians 2:6). Remember that you cannot escape eternity, but you can escape spending it in the wrong place. God bless you as you resolve to live for Him so that His purpose for your life would come to pass in Jesus name. Amen.
The results of man's search for a better understanding of life is quite obvious today as the world is no more what it used to be many years back. Man tend to have found some of the answers he wanted, but there is still more to search for. However, in man's quest to unravel the mysteries behind life, he thought the best way to get the answers he wants, is to keep God out of it. Old beliefs must be shut out!
But despite all the successes achieved, there's one issue man fears he just might not find the answers to: how to prove the Bible wrong in its entirety. The Bible is arguably the most misunderstood Book in the whole world. Not even all believers understand the Scriptures. It's uniqueness is what distincts it from any other book here on earth. It is the only Book that explains accurately the intelligent beginning of life and how we get to where we are today, and what lies ahead. It is the only Book that covers everything that concerns man and the things around him. Such amazing Book surely cannot be the words of men though written by men, but of God. Non of the writers at any point in time ever took credit for writing the books,but wrote as they were divinely instructed. Write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after these things." (Revelation 1:19). God chose to use man to communicate to man because He is too great for man to behold. Some times you wonder why God does the things He does, but a careful study will give you the answers you need.
Man's all time reason for rejecting God and choosing to live without Him, is lack of understand the actual cause of his problems even though he thinks he understands himself better, than what the Bible says about him. He does not understand why he knows the right thing, but most often does what he knows is wrong.
In this truth discovery study, we will be addressing one of the issues plaguing man, and which is solely responsible for man's choice of launching an independent search for an answer that could prove the Bible wrong thus gain freedom from fear of the unknown. His urge for freedom to do what he wants, how he wants, and when he wants, is been threatened by an ancient belief. He sees God as a dictator who is only after his own interests but not the interests of man. Why should he put man in hell for choosing to live his life the way he wants to? But then, can you program a robot making it independent of your control? No wonder people today, go wild because of freedom and independent from their maker. If man truly wants to be reasonable, he should have tried to understand why God gave him instructions on how to live, and the result of his disobedience which is the obvious troubles plaguing the world today without any certain hope of recovery.
The issue we'll be looking at is the question of what lies after death. It is a serious issue because it's like pippin into the unknown. The truth is, only a person who experienced death and return back to life can answer this question. But then, who has ever died and returned back to life to tell us what he saw? Even if he does returns, who will believe his report? Can a mere assumption on what lies after death makes us comfortable as though it's undoubtedly true? Would you rather believe a mere man who says life ends in death, or the Bible which says death is only a transition into yet another life? Well I choose not to believe man hence man's sole purpose for rejecting the Bible is his discomfort with the fear of the unknown as revealed in the Bible, not because he can actually prove the Bible wrong.
Now having laid a background for this study, I will therefore go into the main issue which is "Eternity ". Eternity simply means infinite or without an end.
The Bible did not hide anything from us,but rather,made it clear that something lies ahead of us. Jesus Christ came for this purpose; to reveal the truth on the reality that lies before us and the way out. While on earth, He made it emphatically clear that eternity exists and can be spent in two places which is either Heaven or Hell. He said,"Then he (God) will say to those on his right,"Come,you who are blessed by my Father,inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."
Then he will turn to those on the left and say,'Away with you,you cursed ones,into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.'"" (Matthew 25:34,41). The Bible also says,"And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,in flaming fire,bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction,forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). There are many other Scriptures of the Bible that also speak of eternal life (in heaven),and eternal destruction (in hell).
From the revelations in the Scripture, it is clear that nobody can escape eternity, but it is possible to escape spending it in the wrong place (in hell), with Jesus Christ being the only way. He said,"I am the way,the truth,and the life. No one can come to the Father (in heaven) except through me.". (John 14:6)
The belief of the existence of eternity isn't meant to scare people as it is not only about hell, but also and most importantly about heaven. We were created to live in fellowship with God and enjoy life forever, but sin came in and spoiled everything. But it's not all over though as God out of love restored our broken relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. He did this so that we may be with Him and experience true life. But then, where else can one be if he rejects eternity with God? But why would someone reject a world more glorious than this trouble ravaged world? On a serious note, everyone would surely prefer heaven.
It is important to know that when it comes to the issue of eternity, our opinions don't really matter hence we can neither prove the existence or non existence of eternity without a first hand experience. And the worst thing to do, is to assume eternity does not exist. Eternity is a certain reality we must all come to experience through death in the body after which we will stand judgment. The Bible says, "And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment." -Hebrews 9:27. It is the judgment that reveals where our final eternal home would be.
However, despite the beauty, glory and perfection of the eternal life God promised us through His Son Jesus Christ, sin made us loose sight of this better life. Though we all want a better life, but our sinful nature is against the better life we all yearn for. It makes us live as if we aren't interested in a life far more better than the one we currently live.
The devil has blinded our eyes from seeing the beauty and glory of the place he once lived before his fall. He does not want us to even imagine it as if it never existed. Instead, he does a lot of work polishing this life with the hope of fooling us into thinking it's all we have. Unfortunately, his trick seem to be working! Today, people are living as if death does not exist. They are after the best this life has to offer at the expense of their lives which is of greater value than what they are exchanging it for here on earth. But then, Jesus asked, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul (in hell)? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:26). So are you really convinced in your spirit that this life is all you have and that there's no other? If yes, then you are one of the devil's victims.
Dear friends, our lives are eternal because it's God's breathe in us. Since God is eternal, anything that comes out of Him is also eternal. Therefore our lives are eternal because it came from Him. And God's purpose for giving us this endless life is not to suffer in hell, but to be with Him. Hell is not meant for us but the devil and his loyalists; "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!" (Matthew 25:41). You see, it's not for you. But if you follow the path of the devil, you'll also end up with him and his loyalists in the same place.
In conclusion, it's important you know where you stand. Eternity is a certain experience, and being afraid of it does not change the reality at hand. But the greatest good you can do to yourself is to make peace with God by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God's constant anger." (John 3:36) and after which you must continue to walk with Him in obedience till the day you finally depart from this life to be with Him in Heaven. "Therefore, now that you have accepted Christ as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. " (Colossians 2:6). Remember that you cannot escape eternity, but you can escape spending it in the wrong place. God bless you as you resolve to live for Him so that His purpose for your life would come to pass in Jesus name. Amen.