Made in His Image

Psalm 90:2

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." 

 

I'm usually a pretty good sleeper, but there are times when I either can't get to sleep, or I wake up restless and can't go back to sleep. I have a little mental exercise I do when these times happen.  

I start with the current year and count backwards. For every year I try to recall at least one significant event in my life. I'll do more if they come to me, but I usually move on after 2 or 3 things.  

I was born in 1958. If I get that far without falling asleep I keep going and try to remember significant events in history for the year. If I can't think of anything I'll just say, "I got nothing" and move on. I'll go as far as it takes. The longest I remember going was to 1912 - the sinking of the Titanic.

The truth is, though, that no matter how long any of us live, the years of our lives are a vanishingly small slice of time when compared to eternity. James says in his letter that our lives are "a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14). Even if we were to count back to year 0 - the creation - a long, long time - we wouldn't even scratch the surface of eternity.

I don't know if I have the mental capability to comprehend eternity. It is impossible to understand because eternity exists outside the concept of time. I can't make myself understand an existence without time.

Even so, I know that God is eternal. He has always been and He will always be. I may not understand the mechanics of how He is. I just take comfort in the belief. I also take comfort in the realization that because God provided a way to have a relationship with Him, I will spend eternity with Him in a place called Heaven. Again, I don't know how it will work, I just b that it will.

What will I do in Heaven for eternity? What does Heaven look like? What will I find there? Golden streets? Crystal seas? Choirs of angels?

The truth is that I have no idea, and I'm ok with that.

The only thing I am absolutely, positively 100% sure will be in Heaven is God. He has always been there and He will always be there. I'm just thankful that He loves me enough to let me be there with Him.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the comfort of knowing that you are eternal; that you will always be. Thank you for the gift that gives us the ability to share eternity with you. Amen.

This episode was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.