Not Even Close

It’s not uncommon for memorials to have what they call an “eternal flame” in honor of important people who have died. And while I can appreciate the sentiment and the intentions, they aren’t actually eternal of course. They are not even close to eternal.

Our concept of eternal must not be molded by transient attempts by people for things to last a long time. Eternal doesn’t mean a long time, or even a long, long, long time. Eternal means literally no end. It means without time and without limitation.

Here are a few things that the New Testament says are really eternal:

God – Rom. 16:26; God’s power – 1 Tim. 6:16; Heavenly home – Lk 16:9; 2 Cor. 5:1; Glory reward – 2 Cor 4:17; Consolation – 2 Thess 2:16; Inheritance – Heb 9:15; God’s covenant – Heb 13:20; The Spirit – Heb 9:14; God’s glory – 2 Tim 2:10; 1 Pet 5:10; The Kingdom – 2 Pet 1:11; Life reward – Matt 19:29; Salvation – Heb 5:9; Redemption – Heb 9:12; The Gospel – Rev 14:6.

We all like to hear about these things. Even unbelievers find it nice to think and dream about. The New Testament does emphasize the positive when it comes to eternal things. The original word for “eternal” is used more times than anything else to refer to the life promised to God’s people. When times are tough and our material world is shaken, it’s good to know that, as Christians, we still have something “eternal in the heavens” even if we lose everything here. It is right that we focus on and emphasize eternal life, but if there are eternal “positives” there must also be “eternal” negatives. God, being the good God that He is, not only lures us with good, but also warns us of the bad.

These things are also eternal:

Judgment – Heb 6:2; Destruction – 2 Thess 1:9; Damnation – Mk 3:29; Punishment – Matt 25:46; Fire – Matt 18:18; 25:41; Jude 1:7

We don’t like to think about these, but that doesn’t make them any less eternal. Has it occurred to you that heaven and hell are of equal lengths? They are rewards in a place without time and without end. How wonderful. How terrible. We see why God did so much in sending Jesus Christ to save us from an eternity without Him to give us eternal life with Him.   dd