The Life Everlasting

 

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self his being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV).

 

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 others in our community of faith from around the world, completely freed from all fears, and filled with perfect peace and joy (cf. 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 during struggles, challenges, and sometimes even utter defeat. But we are encouraged not to despair during 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. This is our declaration of faith!