How much does eternity have an impact on your life now? On my life now?
Right now, I’m lifted by the joy of having spent a few days at the Keswick Convention (which is a Christian conference in the Lake District), serving there and also getting to enjoy bits and pieces of the Convention!
The topic when I was there was the resurrection, and it was so good to be reminded of my eternal hope in Christ, because I belong to Him (and you can too- you can find out more here).
It’s so easy to get caught up in the here and now, thinking only about this world. I so often live like my eternal future with Christ isn’t ever going to happen, because it can feel so far away.
But the Convention was a reminder that, in Christ, that isn’t true at all. Trusting in Jesus, belonging to Him, the hope of resurrection and eternal life changes everything for me.
Because I know that I am going to live forever with the Lord in eternal bliss, I don’t need to have a perfect life, or have all my dreams fulfilled, now.
Because I know that my eternal future is secure in Christ, no matter what happens down here, I have an amazing, eternal reason for joy!
Because I know that eternity is what really matters, it can spur me on to pour out my life in reaching others, even when that involves suffering and sacrifice, because my future is secure, and eternity is what really counts.
What did Paul conclude after enthusing about the Christian’s resurrection hope?
‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 15:58
At the end of the last session I was in, we sang a song about Heaven, and it moved me to tears: realising that this is the reality: this certain hope of being with Christ forever. A big tent of us singing together in a week long convention is just a tiny, pinprick taste of something we who know Jesus (and if you don’t, you can- you can find out more here) will know with the Lord forever.
What a hope to soak in, think about and remember!
But, maybe, for you, that hope feels far away?
A few years ago, I was going through a tough time, and struggling to find hope for the road ahead. I talked to the Lord about it, and sensed His encouragement that, for the believer in Christ, even though there may be trials and tears, there is light all along the road to Heaven. It led to me writing a song. The song is called ‘All the Way Home’, and you can find it on my ‘Come to Me’ album (it’s the last song), which you can sample and get here .
All the Way Home
It is a narrow road
And it is sometimes paved with tears.
There are some painful parts,
Maybe some broken years.
But I never need to give up my hope, following Jesus.
I never need to give up my hope.
In Jesus there’s light that shines all along this road.
In Jesus there’s hope that grows all the way Home.
Jesus will meet with me.
His arms will be around me.
Jesus will walk with me
All the way home.
And yes, there are some trials.
There is a price to pay.
But He works all things for my good.
He’ll wipe my tears away.
So I never need to give up my hope, following Jesus.
No, I never need to give up my hope.
In Jesus there’s light that shines all along this road.
In Jesus there’s hope that grows all the way Home.
Jesus will meet with me.
His arms will be around me.
Jesus will walk with me
All the way home.
Your faithfulness will bless my days
You will always be my hiding place
Your tenderness will hold me close
In Your great, amazing grace
And when the Dawn of Heaven breaks
And I see my Beloved’s face,
I’ll sing of the loving way
You led me all the way home
So I never need to give up my hope, following Jesus.
No, I never need to give up my hope.
In Jesus there’s light that shines all along this road.
In Jesus there’s hope that grows all the way Home.
Jesus will meet with me.
His arms will be around me.
Jesus will walk with me
All the way home.
Lord, You will meet with me.
Your arms will be around me.
Lord, You will walk with me
All the way home.
If you know that certain hope in Christ, may you soak in it, drink it in and live in the light of it, pouring out your life because of the joy ahead.
And if you don’t, I do need to warn you that Hell is real too, and we all need God’s forgiveness. Right now, it’s not too late to receive His forgiveness through Jesus and find eternal hope- you can find out more here.
May you be encouraged today!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Caroline Abblitt 