Day 7, Year 1 Pondering Eternal Life

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a NKJV)

When you choose the true life, you can live longer. Eternal life might seem out of reach, but some people have really entered heaven and enjoy eternal happiness. Contrarily, there are more who are pulled into hell. A small number of people also reported having near-death experiences, which means they died but came back to life. Some of them expressed that regardless of how long or short their time in this world would be, they earnestly prepared for the coming eternal life. While this world might not seem transient, human life is short indeed. Many do not know how many days they will be on earth, and they might pass away tomorrow, next year, or decades later.

“Eternity” in today’s verse, olam in Hebrew, means “long duration, antiquity, futurity, indefinite or unending future.”  One could extrapolate a brief moment to a very long time, thus people have different perceptions of time. Facing the brevity of life, many might ask: Why? Especially when good people pass away, beautiful relationships or things end, people would likely reminisce and are reluctant to let go. Many people wish that good people and things in the world could last for a longer time, yet reality often presents the opposite scenario—everything possesses a transient essence, creating a stark contrast to eternal life. Everything has its time.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. Many people know how to seize opportunities, such as harvesting crops quickly when they are ripe. Similarly, the hope for longevity and eternal life is the thought that God has placed in humans’ minds. Some might erase this thought, while others turn this thought into a desire in our hearts, and therefore yearning for eternal life. Those who yearn for eternity are often eager to seize opportunities, such as searching for eternity from the ephemeral and passing. It is also when hard times are over, or in times of smooth sailing that believers desire and prepare to obtain eternal life. The desire for eternal life is one of the most crucial in choosing life.

Reflection questions:

1) Are you a person good at seizing opportunities for eternity? If not, what has to be changed in you with the help of the Lord?

2) Does your failing to retain beautiful people and things urge you to seek eternal life? Why or why not?