By Sidharth Mohandas
The doctrines discussed so far dealt with the issues in the realm of time. The examination of the last two doctrines will however lead us to an altogether new realm of study. We are making a transition from the realm of time to the realm of eternity (Hebrews 6:2).
Before we move onto these doctrines, we should have a clear understanding of what the word “eternal” or “eternity” means. There is a common misconception that the word eternity represents an infinitely long period of time. This is not so. Eternity is not endless time. Eternity is in fact, outside the realm of time. It is the mode and the realm in which God lives.
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity…” (Isaiah 57:15 KJV).
One of the most important things we need to realize about eternity is that it is not bound or weighed by quantity, but by quality. On the other hand, the world of time is governed by quantity. If you have noticed, even our successes are gauged by numbers: the quantity of money we earn, the number of cars we own, the number of people we minister to and so forth. This would explain why God asked Gideon to decrease the size of his army from 32,000 to 300, why the widows mite was considered of more value than the large sums offered by others, or how God could take just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to feed a crowd of over 5000. God has called us to a higher standard of living (1 Timothy 6:12), a life that is influenced by the values and power of eternity.
How does He do it? Not by taking us out of time, but by training us to live in time driven by eternity.
Time is a reality to all us, and we are aware of the merciless tyranny of it in the fact that we can do nothing to arrest or reverse the course of time. However, there is a bigger and more inevitable reality awaiting all of us: The reality of coming before an eternal God. You and I will face with two universal appointments and that is, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
In the coming articles, we desire to deal with these two doctrines which will help us to lead lives geared by eternity.
Oh my, that’s a big one! Fascinating.
Awesome! Never thought of eternity like that!
Sidharth,
Beautiful! So true!!! I feel so controlled by quantity in my life. Everything around me is based on numbers and how much I have, need, or want. We live in a world obsessed with quantity. I pray for quality as I seek after God and where he lives – eternity. I pray for a perspective more like Christ’s. A perspective that more ignores the quantity desired by this world and focuses on the quality of eternal life in Jesus.
Thanks for this thought about eternity and I look forward to your coming articles.
peace in Christ,
brad
Beautiful clear writing Sidharth,
Yes time is only a way to measure change or quantity. And I am also finding that time can be arrested, slowed down a whole bunch, by experiencing the reality of change emerging from non-change or eternity (God). God is omnipresent and therefore in all change.
I’ve never been a number person, more of a word person. I think after reading this I understand why.
Profound>>”…training us to live in time driven by eternity”
This is rich, Sidhu. Can’t wait to hear the next pieces.
Hello Sidharth. I always love reading your posts. They make me really think and help me in my own walk with HIM. Thank you!