I believe there is a heaven and a hell, and that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and to establish his eternal kingdom.
"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. You know the way to the place where I am going."
John 14:1-4
John Lennon’s signature song, “Imagine,” was released in 1971 as a plea for world peace. His lyrics describe what he imagined life would be like without eternity.
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
Lennon seemed to believe that if he could somehow—by the power of his own imagination—erase God and eternity, then people would live only for today. This, he thought, would result in world unity and peace among all of mankind. However, history has shown that Lennon’s dream of a Godless society lived for the here and now always results in a nightmare.
With no hope of a God caring for us who will one day set all things right, no larger meaning or purpose in life, no reliable standards for behavior, and no truly long-term consequences to consider, people often turn to despair, self-medicating, looking for their identity in things that will never satisfy, seeking power through harmful means, or simply putting themselves above others to make sure their own desires or personal needs are met.
Thankfully, the Bible declares that God has made us for eternity. He has even placed a longing for heaven in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Let’s consider three biblical truths about eternity:
Eternity Happens Now and Later
Often when we think of eternity, we think of a never-ending timeline that begins once we experience physical death or upon the return of Jesus. In truth, eternity is something that will happen later, but it is also something happening now. Every person alive today and every person who has ever lived is experiencing some form of eternity. We are eternal beings.
Eternity Is Experienced by Everyone, but Not Everyone Will Experience the Same Eternity
All who are in Christ will experience eternal life in and with Jesus, while those who reject Jesus will experience eternal punishment and separation from his presence. Jesus said, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Though the world rejects this theology, the Bible is crystal clear about both God’s gracious reward to those who trust Christ and God’s righteous judgment on those who reject him.
Eternity Brings Hope to Those Who Have Eternal Life
As believers we are experiencing eternal life now, but we also live with great expectation of being glorified with Christ in the future. Colossians 3:4 reads, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” When times are tough in this life, we often remind ourselves that this is not the end of the story. One day we will find ourselves face-to-face with the Lord and justice will be served. Suffering and sickness will no longer wage war on our bodies. Peace and unity will be all that we know. This promise of eternity enables us to hold on in hope and persevere through trials.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the abundant gift of eternal life that you have given me in Jesus. Help me to live a life that advances your eternal kingdom. Give me the opportunity to share the reason for the hope you have given me with those who are still dead in their sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen.