Forever And Ever

• Name something you wish would never end.

• How do you picture heaven?

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 -14

Have you ever been sad to get to the end of a movie or book? Did you wish that the story could just go on forever and ever? Most people feel that way about life. Of course, not every day is great. There are ups and downs, good times and bad. But few people are eager to get to the end; most people would like it to last forever.

And it does. For believers, life on earth is like being on the first page of a trillion-page book. The apostle Paul’s words to the believers in Thessalonica are meant to give us comfort. Christian loved ones who have passed away aren’t gone from our lives forever—just for one page. One day we’ll be reunited with them, and we’ll spend eternity—trillions of pages—together.

Death is not the end for a person who follows Christ. Reminding ourselves of that can help us keep the right perspective on this life. No matter what happens, good or bad, it’s temporary. What matters is what lasts: our relationship with the Lord.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for allowing us to have an eternal relationship with you. Help us keep our eyes on eternity even when things in this world try to interfere. Amen.