Author	Thread: Eternity versus Everlasting Life...
Admin	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 9 Sep, 2012 09:26 PM I've seen a number of people make this sort of comment: "Spending eternity in Heaven would be sooooooo boring. What's to prevent me from being bored?" Generally, this implies an immature view of "heaven", with the idea that one would be sitting on a cloud, strumming a harp, and that's about it. Repeat, ad infinitum, and yes, And to some that doesn't sound very compelling. However, I would suggest that one use a different term, which Christ does -- "everlasting life". What's the difference? Well, conceptually, eternity is a nothing -- it just refers to the lack of time. Nothing begins, nothing ends, everything just is, as it is, and ever shall be. But let's think about "everlasting life" for a moment, put it in context. Let's say that you like to play cards. Everlasting life means that you can invite friends over to play cards, and no one has to leave "because I'm tired" or "because I have work in the morning" or anything else. They can play cards for as long as they like -- you could host a card game, with people coming and going, for as long as you felt like holding it. Pick your favourite activity, and think about how time, money or resources limits your enjoyment of it. That goes away if time doesn't matter. If you are twenty years old, the concept of everlasting life likely means little to you, because, at twenty, life IS everlasting. But when you're fifty� seventy� ninety� suddenly the idea of everlasting life starts to make sense. Time to do the things that you never had the chance to do. Time to do the things you never had the ability to do, because you have time to hone that ability, even if it takes forever. That's what the concepts of eternity and everlasting life combine to be -- time is no longer of any relevance, and there is no end. It isn't that we go on forever, but we go on without end. Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 9 Sep, 2012 10:40 PM So I can finally break that "Longest amount of time you can go without blinking your eyes" record? Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 07:03 AM I think your focus is wrong man. Even if we were able to do our favorite thing for ever, we would be bored to death. The reason heaven will not be that way has nothing to do with how we look at the word or if we get to play our favorite sport. I has everything to do with God being there. Streets of gold would get old. There must be something that sustains us. That is God. Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 07:05 AM Forgive me if that's what you meant. I just didn't see it. Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 08:39 AM Is no-one else going to say it? Fine. Get a life, MsMarvel! (ha... ha... haaa, good one...) Hello, CalmCoolCollective! How do you think one should work John 17:3 into an answer to that boredom question? I'll put it in here (these are of Jesus' words to the Father): "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Might kind of be what you were trying to get at, GraceUndeserved. Maybe. Possibly. Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 08:43 AM Absolutely :) Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 09:45 AM OP said: "It isn't that we go on forever, but we go on without end. " I personally didn't understand the distinction that is being made here. Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 10 Sep, 2012 04:49 PM Me get a life? You get a life, Bird boy! :ROFL: (Hoping you didn't take this at all serious, as I totally am joking and couldn't take any offense with you.) Post Reply
View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 11 Sep, 2012 11:44 PM Oops! I also wanted to say, CalmCoolCollective, that the analogy you gave us is useful. Thanks! As for you, MsMarvel... tw-tweet tweet chirpity-tweet chirp! (Which I think means "Shutterbug!" in light-hearted Rosellan, rather than "This apple tastes really tart!") Post Reply
faithful77 View Profile History	Eternity versus Everlasting Life... Posted : 27 Dec, 2012 09:42 PM The word "eternity" is mentioned once in the Bible. It is in Isaiah 57:15, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Eternity is referred to God in His timelessness. We are limited to time, God however is not. Everlasting Life- Life that can happen now and last forever. Something that we can be given to us if we believe in His Son. Post Reply