When I think of an eternity in heaven, the worries of this world don’t seem so worrisome, the troubles not so troublesome.
How long is eternity? How does one even put that amount of time into a context we can understand? The thought of it kind of blows my mind.
Amazing Grace, one of the most well-known hymns of all time, helps us understand.
Most of us can identify at least parts of the famous first verse: How sweet the sound…that saved a wretch like me…was lost but now am found.
What beautiful words to describe God’s radical, saving grace.
But, it is in the last verse that we get this glimpse of heaven:
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.
Even after 10,000 years have passed, we’ll have no less days to sing God’s praise.
Think about this: when today is over, you’ll have fewer days remaining on earth. After tomorrow is over, you’ll have even fewer. Eventually, it’ll all be over. It could end tomorrow.
Not so in heaven.
How long is 10,000 years? It’s roughly the equivalent of 125 lifetimes. Imagine living your life 125 times in a row. Now, imagine doing that over and over and over.
Forever.
When I think of an eternity in heaven, the worries of this world don’t seem so worrisome, the troubles not so troublesome. Will I still have my same set of problems when I wake up tomorrow? More than likely, yes. But, when I view them in their true light—they are merely temporary conditions in a temporary life—I can keep going on, no matter how bad life gets.
Jesus said:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 14:1-3, NIV)
Jesus wants us not to worry. He’s already got things figured out. In the end, we get to live with him forever in the coolest place ever. The Bible says we get new bodies. [1]
I’ll take one with more hair above the ears.
The Bible also says that heaven will be a place of joy. [2]
Think of everything that has you weighed down: money problems; health problems; relationship problems. They’re all going to disappear. No more tears. No more pain. No more shame. [3] There will be none of that.
Not ever again.
Yes, this life can be hard. Cruel, in fact. But, this life is so short compared to the next. We’re only on this earth for a while. This is just the warm up act.
You are going to live forever. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, that forever will be in heaven. If you haven’t received him as your savior, I urge you to do it now.
We are not promised tomorrow. Are you certain about your eternity?
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[1] 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
[2] Isaiah 65:17-18
[3] Revelation 21:4
