The Promise of Eternity

      By Fern Horst

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." (Psalms 46:1-2)

God is indeed our refuge, strength and help in trouble. We can all testify to this fact, and likely share stories to prove it. "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed." Wait a minute! Though the earth be removed? How can this be? If the earth is removed, time and life as we know it is no more. What does it matter then that God is my refuge?

At first glance it seems rather contradictory. But the contradiction is only when we focus on this earthly life, and ignore the fact of eternity.

Today I read an article by Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary, who is battling cancer. He wrote, "God doesn't promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity - filled with life and love we cannot comprehend."* God also doesn't promise us that this world will always exist, nor that we will never face death, nor that everything in this life will be the way we want it.

But He has promised us His ever present help through it all, and - if we have accepted Christ as our Saviour - life in His presence throughout eternity. Eternity is a time that goes on forever and ever without end. And in that eternity He promises us "life and love we cannot comprehend."

So what indeed if the world should come to an end today, and there is no earthly tomorrow? We will then be forever in the presence of our Lord. So what is the panic in that?

Seeing our lives as encompassing all of eternity and not ending when we draw our last breath, gives us an accurate perspective to all aspects of our existence. We don't have to experience it all here to experience the ultimate abundant life in eternity. We don't have to panic over world events and possible disasters, because we have much to look forward to should those disasters destroy our earthly lives.

The promise and assurance of eternity is a treasure we have as Christians. Among many other things it gives us peace. When this life isn't all that we dreamed it would be, or when threats of disaster appear on the horizon, we know that this life isn't all there is. The best is yet to come.

In the meantime, how are we living these earthly lives we've been given? Are we living them in such a way as to make a difference in someone else's eternity? The contrast to the wonderful eternity that we as Christians will experience is the horrible one that non-Christians will experience. I personally confess that I am not doing enough to point others to Him. Join me in asking the Lord to give us opportunities to tell others about Jesus. The best gift we can give someone else is to point them to Christ so that they, too, can have the wonderful promise of eternity.

* Cancer's Unexpected Blessings by Tony Snow

© 2007 Fern Horst

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