Life Everlasting

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Maybe you have had some great times with family and friends, with delicious food to enjoy, and perhaps even a sunny, blue sky overhead, a soft breeze blowing, and the world radiating God’s glory in creation.

Times like that can give us a peek at what we mean when we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in . . . the life everlasting.”

Even so, our fleeting moments of joy in this life pale in comparison to the eternal joy we can look forward to in Christ.

Yet this we know with certainty: one day, we will stand before God’s throne with Jesus, surrounded by countless sisters and brothers from around the world, completely freed from all fears, and filled with perfect peace and joy (Revelation 7). There we will be fully doing what we were created for: “to glorify God and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Catechism).

Until that time, we may have only fleeting glimpses of our ultimate destiny—and those moments may come in the midst of struggles, challenges, and sometimes even utter defeat. But we are encouraged not to despair in the midst of hard times but to wait with hope for the day when Jesus will be all and all, when his kingdom will come in power and glory.

Lord Jesus, we look forward to being with you forever. Until that day, help us serve you wherever we are with deeds of love in your name. Amen.