GUEST ARTICLE
Eternity is a Very Long Time!

Have you ever pondered how long eternity is? Perhaps one could get a slight glimpse of eternity if he would try to calculate the value of every leaf that has ever grown on every plant and tree since creation and multiply that huge number times 10,000. If each unit was a year, that alone would be a staggering number, but it still isn't close enough to the concept of eternity.

Much more needs to be considered. Let's add to that value another one produced by multiplying every hair that ever grew on every person, from the creation of Adam to present, times 10,000. To that we should next multiply 10,000 times every grain of sand along all of the seashores and coastlines throughout the entire world. To this we then should add the value produced by multiplying 10,000 times every snowflake and raindrop that ever fell from the creation of the world.

But then this is still much too small a number! To that we should multiply 10,000 times every dust molecule that has ever floated in the air that is far too small for us see with the naked eye. And add to that number 10,000 times every star in all of the innumerable galaxies in the universe. But even then, if all those incalculably large numbers were added together and that number would be years as we know it now, that could only be the first second in eternity!

You face a very long eternity beyond the grave, which is so long you cannot even come close to humanly comprehending it.

Moreover, eternity has synonyms which might help to some small degree in understanding what it is. They are: infinity, perpetuity, endlessness, timelessness, age without end, forever, ceaseless, everlasting, enduring, continuous as in a circle, incessant, relentless, interminable, uninterrupted, unceasing, unremitting, round-the-clock, nonstop, constant, etc.

In other words, you face a very long eternity beyond the grave, which is so long you cannot even come close to humanly comprehending it. You will spend all that time either in an unquenchable and raging fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 3:12; Heb. 10:27 cf. Mt. 25:41) or in a paradise kingdom where love, joy, purity and peace with continue on forever in the presence of God Himself (Luke 23:43; Isa. 35:10; Rev. 21:4,27; Psalm 37:11; Rom. 2:7).

Remember this: Your most precious possession is not your house, car, job, marriage, bank account, health, reputation, etc. It is your eternal soul. Regarding the soul, the Lord asked the following questions:

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37)

To miss out on salvation either by never receiving it or by losing your salvation once you have had it is not a good exchange, even if the devil would offer you great power, wealth and fame all at the same time. Never forget the devil is trying to deceive and devour you. He wants you to spend your endless eternity in Hell. Hence, his strong allurements, temptations and dazzling attractions will always be designed to eventually hurt you in a spiritual way. Unless you take this spiritual battle you are in most seriously, you will perish in the end. The stakes could not be higher! Eternal souls hang in the balance.

Perhaps it is time for you personally to make an all-out radical change for God and for your own soul's sake. Turn from all known sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).

Also consider this:

"We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first" (Heb. 3:14).

You need to get saved and stay saved. Staying saved, which doesn't always happen, is just as necessary to enter the Kingdom of God as getting saved initially (Mt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10,11).

And remember this: If you are like the majority, your physical death will be the beginning of everlasting torment and regret (Mt. 7:13,14 cf. Mt. 25:46; Luke 16:19-31). On the other hand, if you are of the few who have a trusting, submitting and enduring faith in Jesus, your inevitable physical death will be the beginning of Paradise forever (Phil. 1:21-23). It is only the pure in heart who will see God (Mt. 5:8).

You are deciding for yourself now, where you will spend eternity. It is your choice, but it is also your eternity. Make sure you do the right thing. This can be accomplished by reading through the Bible and changing your beliefs and behavior accordingly. Real Christians put God's word into practice (Luke 8:21; Mt. 7:24). God bless you.

Dan Corner

www.evangelicaloutreach.org
P.O. Box 265, Washington, PA 15301-0265