Eternal life? What's the appeal?

July 6, 2006

This is going to sound like a very off-the-wall question, but I'm serious.

What is it about eternal life that makes it so desirable?

To be honest, sometimes I think that I wouldn't *want* to live forever. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I mean, once you meet up with the people you want to meet, and see the places you want to see, what else is there? Everybody is going to want to be by the side of Jesus - but I keep thinking that I'll never reach Him because someone will always be ahead of me. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

And what of the angels? Here they've all had jobs connected with people down here on earth - what are they going to do once we are *promoted*? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

...maybe I just worry too much.. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif" alt="" />

July 6, 2006

Pam, have you read how Paul writes that eyes have not seen, nor ears heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared in heaven. (The reference escapes me, and I should be getting ready for work, I think it is Corinthians). So in one sense, whatever we imagine, we cannot imagine the half.

If there is eternity to be with Jesus, everyone will get a turn to be next to him - lots of turns <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

July 6, 2006

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rudywoofs said:

To be honest, sometimes I think that I wouldn't *want* to live forever.

You might be on to something. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

As far as heaven, I second Nan's reference. Imagine the happiest moment of your life, and then multiply that times a thousand. That still won't be close to how wonderful heaven will be...all the time! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

July 7, 2006

I've been thinking about your question Pam...and some photos Neil had posted awhile back taken from the Hubble telescope came to mind, so I checked out one of the Hubble sites. I can't even describe them...but if you get the chance, check them out sometime...

Hubble

Looking at these photos also made me remember a post you had made before, something about how it was beyond comprehension that God died for us...it is beyond comprehension.

July 7, 2006

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Sid said:

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rudywoofs said:

To be honest, sometimes I think that I wouldn't *want* to live forever.

[:"red"] "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." [/] 1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

[:"red"] " But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." [/] 1 Cor 2:10

[:"red"] "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh..." [/] Ezekiel 11:19 NASB

[:"red"] "`I have yet many things to say to you, but ye are not able to bear [them] now" [/] John 16:12 YLT

Blessings!!

July 7, 2006

Pam, I understand.

I would not want to sit on a cloud, strumming a harp, throughout eternity. That is not me.

We are different people. We like different things. In eternity, we will have eternity to do what we like. If I like to travel, I have a universe in which to travel to see all of the different planets. If I like to study astrophysics, I will have an eternity to study such from the one who created astrophysics. If I like to grow fruit trees, and eat the fruit that grows on them, I will have an eternity to plant and grow fruit that I have never imagined. If I like to socialize with people, I will have a universe filled with God's created beings whom I can befriend, and socialize with.

Eternity if for me, and my enjoyment, whatever I like.

July 7, 2006

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rudywoofs said:

This is going to sound like a very off-the-wall question, but I'm serious.

What is it about eternal life that makes it so desirable?

Time to learn and do all the things you would like to...without limits, without deadlines, without feeling guilty about leaving other things undone...

To have unlimited time...ah, what bliss...so much better than having all the gold in the universe.

(Spoken like a true burnt-out doctor, I know... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />)

An example...

I recently took up playing the piano again after a music drought of about 10 years. When I was a kid I had a huge inferiority complex and thought I was no good at playing music. To practice for an hour a day was enforced torture. But now, I sit down on a Sunday afternoon or an evening after work and before I know it, several hours have gone by...and I'm learning to play things that I never thought possible...and I find myself thinking "What if I had all the time in the world, and didn't have to worry about the ironing not being done or the pile of medical journals going unread? What if I had all of eternity to improve and perfect this particular talent to the glory of God and for the enjoyment of my fellow humans?"

Or even to have unlimited time to study...the history of the universe, the story of the Great Controversy and the plan of salvation, more about the nature of God (which we cannot understand with our finite minds here on earth)...

I could go on and on, but I don't have all the time in the world... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/tomato.gif" alt="" />

aldona

July 7, 2006

You might want to read the last paragraph in the Great Controversy. There's also a chapter I believe in the book Education on what we'll be doing in heaven.

Gerry

July 7, 2006

The last paragraph of Great Controversy:

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The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.

God is love. Okay. But I'm not sure how creation = God's love. It shows the omnipotence of God and it shows the omnipresence of God; it shows His creativity and forethought. I'm not sure how it shows the LOVE of God, though. []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_confused.gif[/]

I guess I'm a cynic. I can't think of ANYTHING I'd want to do forever. Nothing is that important to me.

(The paragraph right before the last paragraph talks about strumming our harps. I have a harp already - but I wouldn't want to play it forever either.)

(It also says that there will be no night. I like the nights better than the daytime. The more I read, the less I feel like I would belong in heaven. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> )

July 7, 2006

Re: " I like the nights better than the daytime. The more I read, the less I feel like I would belong in heaven."

Pam, did it occur to you that you might be able to live wherever you wanted to in the universe? So, if you wanted to live on planet Earth, where there is night an day, you could do so. Of if you wanted to live on planet X which has two moons, you could do co. You then could visit the center of God's domain (Heaven) as you chose.

July 7, 2006

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Gregory Matthews said:

Re: " I like the nights better than the daytime. The more I read, the less I feel like I would belong in heaven."

Pam, did it occur to you that you might be able to live wherever you wanted to in the universe? So, if you wanted to live on planet Earth, where there is night an day, you could do so. Of if you wanted to live on planet X which has two moons, you could do co. You then could visit the center of God's domain (Heaven) as you chose.

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> No - that never entered my mind. Its been my assumption that all the *saved* would be required to live in heaven. I never thought I'd have a choice in the matter. Hmm...I need to think about this..

July 7, 2006

I have always liked this quote from the Great Controversy (p.676, paragraph 2):

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There, immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward,[:"red"] the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized;[/] and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.

The reason why I like the way she puts it here is because I didn't realise before this that my aspirations and ambitions counted for anything. I liked the idea that I would be free to learn and explore and keep growing

July 8, 2006

Also in GC, EGW says in page 651:

In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of redemption...The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity.

It will take an eternity to comprehend and understand God's love and sacrifice for us!

July 8, 2006

I seriously doubt that those coming from Earth will have an extended, eternal vacation, sitting around, doing nothing but eating fruit and waving palm branches and playing harps.

Do you think Jesus would be king over an unproductive world filled with lazy, indolent people whom he sacrificed his life to bring there?

If everyone has a job in the next life, perhaps they will get to switch to another job every 50 years or so, just to keep from being eternally bored. It will probably require education or training to function in a new job.

Just think about eating all that fruit and not having any plumbing or plumbers in the New Jerusalem.

July 8, 2006

Pam,

Eternal life is not so much about the place or the length of time, but the fact that we will be with Jesus and our Father. Being with those we love will be great because we'll experience this together. In this life we have all kinds of highs and new things that facinate us, but they eventually loose the attraction. When in heaven it will be impossible to loose our attraction for Jesus. It can be so even now, if we take the step and choose to love Him.

When we love Jesus here and now, heaven is a place we long to be, because He's there. It takes time for this to happen, some longer than others. Just don't wait to have all your questions answered before you give Him your heart or you'll never do it.

Sincerely,

Norman

July 8, 2006

Here's the way I see it:

We live on spherical graveyard spinning around the sun. We live in a world were everyone is out for himself/herself. It's all about me, me, me.... We live in a world were thousands of people die daily. We live in a world full of disease, poverty, war and hypocrisy etc…. Yeah, I want to stay here.... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

July 8, 2006

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Just don't wait to have all your questions answered before you give Him your heart or you'll never do it.

I was wondering when someone was going to say that to me. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> It's not a big surprise that people still consider me to be an *outsider.*

I admit it - I am NOT a good representation to the world of a good Christian. I have doubts. I have concerns. I have very little faith. I don't go to church. I have a hard time understanding some (okay...a *lot*) of the Bible. I know I ask questions that make people uneasy. I'm sorry.

On the other hand - I am learning. I am a searcher for the truth. I am so teachable it hurts. I do believe in God. I do believe in Christ. I do believe in grace. And in the face of hell I havent given up trying to get to KNOW Christ.

::looks down at ground::

No...I'm not a good representative of Christianity at all. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

July 8, 2006

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Just don't wait to have all your questions answered before you give Him your heart or you'll never do it.

I was wondering when someone was going to say that to me.

Hey...this has got my name on it....I didn't say it!

Rob

July 8, 2006

Hey Rob,

I was just speaking for you, lol

July 8, 2006

Hey Pam,

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It's not a big surprise that people still consider me to be an *outsider.*

let that kind of thinking go, it's not healthy, I am not a determiner of your standing in Christ.

I had a friend who asked and asked questions about everything that came to his mind concerning God and religion. Today he is not a Christian or a believer in anything.

His reason for asking these questions was to find out if He was acceptable to God. He wanted to know if God was going to punish him for his past. Once he found out how loving God was, he left God. He was thrilled by the good news for a while but then left.

I'm not suggesting that you're doing this, but take what you have learned and act upon it, if you haven't already. Trust God and live by faith give yourself wholly to Him now and those doubts that you may have will go away and be lost in the love He has for you. Believe that you are saved because He is that good. His goodness is what causes us to change. Look at you life, it has been a mess and yet He has always loved you. That is how I view myself, a mess that is loved. I have a picture in my mind of what I should be and at times I reach that, but there are other times that I'm in need of a smack. (or love tap) I must move forward and not let those times influence my life.

Norman

July 8, 2006

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rudywoofs said:

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Just don't wait to have all your questions answered before you give Him your heart or you'll never do it.

I was wondering when someone was going to say that to me. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> It's not a big surprise that people still consider me to be an *outsider.*

I admit it - I am NOT a good representation to the world of a good Christian. I have doubts. I have concerns. I have very little faith. I don't go to church. I have a hard time understanding some (okay...a *lot*) of the Bible. I know I ask questions that make people uneasy. I'm sorry.

On the other hand - I am learning. I am a searcher for the truth. I am so teachable it hurts. I do believe in God. I do believe in Christ. I do believe in grace. And in the face of hell I havent given up trying to get to KNOW Christ.

::looks down at ground::

No...I'm not a good representative of Christianity at all. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Pam I have just listened (to Sammy who preached) to a sermon on the church of Laodicea. Talking about the selfsatisfied group who think they have it all when in reality they have nothing that matters. We can all be considered 'outsiders' and we all need the robe and eyesalve which Jesus alone can give us, at a great many phases of our existence. We all have doubts and down times - some of us show it more than others. I do not think the intent of that message was to make you feel an outsider - just a reminder that we all, each day, need to make a positive decision about how we want our lives to go. If we just go with the flow, the destination may not be what we really want.

July 8, 2006

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Norman said: I had a friend who asked and asked questions about everything that came to his mind concerning God and religion. Today he is not a Christian or a believer in anything.

To all,

Personally when I honestly look at the Bible I see what seems to be contradictions (E.G., Rom 3:28 Vs. James 2:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21 vs. Matthew 5:38...and many others) ButI think it's great....It makes us realize that our minds, without the HS, are incapable of understanding truth (not that we understand everything perfectly).

Until one understands how much God loves him/her nothing else matters. We must be grounded in His love. Once you get that down then look at doctrinal issues.

Here's Paul: "you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God."

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

July 8, 2006

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rudywoofs said:

What is it about eternal life that makes it so desirable?

[:"red"] "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." [/] Revelation 21:4 KJV

[:"red"] "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- " [/] Ephesians 3:20 AMP

[:"red"] "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." [/] Luke 1:37 AMP

[:"red"] "beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper..." [/] 3 John 1:2 YLT

[:"red"] "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" [/] Ezekiel 33:11 KJV

[:"red"] "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." [/] Psalm 16:11 KJV

[:"red"] " So He said to them, “When you pray, say..... Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

[/] Luke 11:2 NKJV

Blessings!!

July 8, 2006

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just to keep from being eternally bored.

IMHO only the "self" centered would get bored. "self" thinking wont be part of the new world. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/GP.gif" alt="" />

July 8, 2006

While nothing can make God stop from loving us, there is ONE thing that will separate us from Him:

[:"red"]"But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

And your sins have hidden His face from you,

So that He will not hear." Isa 59:2 NKJ [/]

Gerry

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