“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life.” John 5:24 NLT
The trees we observe each season, budding new leaves in spring, thriving in green dressing all summer long, then changing colors before dropping in the fall, are fed by an energy we cannot fully see. It is an eternal energy, responsible for creation and the maintaining of creation. An eternal energy bursting beyond heaven’s boundaries, to reside here on earth, keeping our lives in perfect sync with God’s plan for creation.
Eternity, life without end, is the highlight of our true colors. As Jesus teaches so beautifully in our opening verse, the minute we believe in God our eternity begins, even as we live our lives on earth.
Like the trees, we have an eternal energy sustaining us, maintaining us, repairing us and preparing us for our life in heaven.
We live as part of a bigger picture, one that doesn’t end when our lives end on earth, but continuing in the glorious perfections of heaven.
Our human minds cannot totally comprehend the scope of eternity, but by faith we take on the true color of eternity and trust the God who knows where our stories are going.
“Eternal life does not start when we go to heaven. It starts the moment you reach out to Jesus. He never turns his back on anyone. And he’s waiting for you.” Corrie Ten Boom
With scripture and with faith we can form a basic understanding of concepts that comprise the heart of heaven.
Heaven is God’s home, which means everything in heaven will reflect who God is. Many of the Psalms, especially Psalm 145, give us a clear picture of God’s characteristics. With these descriptions, our own thoughts of eternity develop and help us to recognize the presence of eternity of earth.
“The Lord is righteous in all he does and faithful in all of his ways.” Psalm 145:17 NIV In heaven, everything will be right. Jesus is our righteousness and through his sacrifice, he made us righteous as well. When we look for the eternal upon earth, we seek what is right, what feels right, what aligns with God’s definition of right. We pray for God to guide us in the right decision. Seeking righteousness means desiring eternal consequences and a faithful relationship with God.
In heaven, we will receive complete knowledge and truth. Paul wrote, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT
Through the Bible, God has shared part of eternity with us. His words, alive and active, bring infinite truth to our hearts. Pursuing a relationship with God connects us to eternity and the knowledge we need to live our best life on earth. Believing the truth of God’s eternal words, uncovers our true colors.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV Heaven is filled with peace. No more waiting or wondering. No more worry or distress. No more conflicts or disputes. Everlasting, all-encompassing peace. With God in our lives, we experience a foretaste of his peace that overcomes every shadow of earth.
How does the true color of eternity influence our lives? Proverbs 4:18 gives us an idea. “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full dawn of day.” Proverbs 4:18 NLT Just as the sun begins to glow on the horizon, nearly 1-2 hours before it fully beams on earth, our eternal lives glow softly on this earth, preparing for the full arrival of eternity.
C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you’ll get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you’ll get neither. May God lead you to his eternity each day.
Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your lives): Read Psalm 145 and 1 Corinthians 13: 7-12 for a clearer understanding of our eternal nature and our eternal home.
Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): Use this prayer to guide your heart into eternity each day.
God of the heavens, You have set eternity in my heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)Your kindness, Your love, Your righteousness, Your faithfulness are part of my life every day. Help me to live from the peace that lives in my heart. Help my choices today to be choices that bring eternity close. Let your eternal perspective become stronger in my mind each day.
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