Our son has latched on to the concept of eternal life. He often thanks God for eternal life when he prays. I credit his Sunday school teachers for talking about it, because I believe that is where he has heard the message the most. As a mama, it brings me great joy and I pray for him that he will never lose his excitement about seeing Jesus and spending forever's forever with God.
You know who else was excited about eternal life? Most hymn writers! Yep. that's right. Over the last several weeks, I have noticed that most old well-know hymns end with a verse about eternity. The lyrics remind me, and whoever might sing them, that one day our struggle and toil will end and if we lay down to die in Christ, we will live with Him forever.
Here are few examples:
Amazing Grace
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’d first begun.
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
It Is Well with My Soul
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heav’n’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.
"That Story" that I wrote about last week is the beginning of something eternal and so wonderful no words can properly describe it. Christian, you are going somewhere that will be forever, that will be right, whose light is God Himself, and where YOU will be made new, whole, and glorified!!
You know were the hymn writers got all their crazy ideas? The Bible! Yep, that's right. I don't know how many times eternal life is mentioned specifically, but surely you know John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Frequently when the Scriptures talk about saving grace, the reward of eternal life is mentioned. And oh, dear friend, the reward comes not from an earthy life perfectly lived, but from an earthy life dependent on faith in the saving work of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. How often I need to be reminded! How hopeful is "that story"!!
We used to sing a song in youth group called, People Get Ready for the Train to Jordan. People, get ready, the train is coming! You might already be on board. In that case, praise the Lord and keep your little self on that train! If you have not embraced this faith and hope of eternal life, why not get on board today? Please let me know if you want to talk and pray more about this. I would love that very much.
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