EVERLASTING is a Long, Long Time

My post today was inspired by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s 8-hour “Dreamer” speech which set a new House record….by quite a lot. She crushed the previous House record speech of 5 hours, 15 minutes. This post isn’t to suggest that her speech seemed to be EVERLASTING, though her fellow Democratic representative couldn’t OUTLAST the speech and fell asleep. Personal request here: Please remind me to not be in a seat behind a public speaker AND one who is being televised! After all, I have been known to nod off inadvertently myself. My post isn’t anti Pelosi, but it is “Thanks, Nancy, for inspiring me with the word EVERLASTING."

EVERLASTING: Love, live or last longer than; outlive, survive, withstand; forever

We think of that word when we’re at a sports game that seems EVERLASTING or having to endure a medical treatment that seems EVERLASTING. And, women, aren’t we so thrilled that labor and childbirth aren’t EVERLASTING, though it may feel like it? Thank God, a clear end (literally) is always in sight.

In our wedding vows, we said “I will love you forever.” That means EVERLASTING, but we are fallible and subject to change when those vows (promises) are broken. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce.

In its proper context, EVERLASTING is a word I embrace and count as one of my greatest reasons for my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Here’s the truth He promises AND He keeps His promises:

Isaiah 40:28 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the EVERLASTING God.”

Jeremiah 31:3 -- The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

Psalm 103:17 – “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 – “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are His EVERLASTING arms.”

Isaiah 26:4 -- “Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an EVERLASTING Rock.”

Psalm 100:5 – “For the LORD is good; His loving-kindness is EVERLASTING and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Jeremiah 10:10 – “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the EVERLASTING King.”

Rest assured that our Father, God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and our Abba (Daddy) Father keeps His promises and when he says EVERLASTING love and kindness…..He means it. He’s a good, good Father. The question is are we good, good children? I hope so because, more than anything, we want to live EVERLASTING with Him for all eternity!

In the Light of Eternity

One of my favorite sayings is “In the light of eternity….it just won’t matter”! And, I usually say it when discussions go controversial, or when I'm making a trivial decision. Bottom line, like the “God quote” here, this life is just so short, why should we sweat the small stuff? We’re going to spend much more time in heaven, than we are on earth. In his book, "Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren said “Earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. This life is preparation for the next”.

When we really understand that there is so much more to life than just the here and now, and we understand that this life is just preparation for eternity, we’ll begin to live differently. And, my saying “in the light of eternity” will make much more sense. We’ll be able to handle every task, every circumstance, every relationship “in the light of eternity”. Those things that once seemed so important to us—the activities, the problems, the conquests will seem quite unimportant on the radar. Maybe on this earth’s radar, a BIG DEAL. On heaven’s radar, not even a blip on the radar screen.

That’s why, on the day of my Sweetheart’s graduation to heaven, I became his Mid-Wife. I coached him to “Push, Baby, Push!” to the other side….for there he would be living where the wonder and splendor of heaven is beyond explanation. What I knew, is that I loved him too much to keep him from one more minute of the bliss that awaited him. It was time for his BIRTH-day in heaven -- where "in the light of eternity", he was home sweet home.