It seems our human minds are unable to fully grasp the concept of eternity, that which has no beginning or end, that which has always and will always be. No fear, we will someday have some better comprehension of this when we step from this life to our eternal one.
Perhaps you have seen the illustration of a very long rope, one that realistically might expand the circumference of an auditorium where you sit. A rope which imaginably extends beyond the auditorium to encircle the entire building. In fact, imagine such a rope that proceeds to encircle every building in your town, and then every town in your state, and every state in your country, before it then crosses borders to do the same in every country of the world, every planet and moon in our solar system, and every galaxy in the universe…and beyond! That is a very long rope, but truthfully it just keeps on going without end.
And back in the auditorium where you sit, you notice in one spot on this rope there is tied a knot. It is not a very large knot. In fact, compared to the size of the rope, it might not be noticeable at all. And then it occurs to you…you are the knot and God is the rope with no beginning and no end. This small knot represents your entire life. Now your life may be 70 or 80 years long, maybe more. Even if it is 120 years, it is a small portion of the rope that spans the eternity that is God. And then you contemplate his words to you:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4
“I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
In this quiet moment you see your life in view of an eternal timeline you still cannot comprehend. But you realize that everything you do and think, and everyone whose life you touch has meaning. You can’t allow yourself to sink into self-pity, longing for what was, or bemoaning what is that discourages you now. All you can grasp is a gracious God who loves you with an everlasting love.
And in this “eternity moment” you determine how you will respond to such a love today, right now, and for a lifetime. You are loved and you are called to live a meaningful and satisfying life.
