Forever

Forever is a long, long, long, time! Actually, there is no time in eternity. But we can’t fathom that, so we think of it as unending time. Do you ever try to stretch your mind as far as you can imagine in thinking about things like this? It’s a good exercise for the brain, but we fall short of understanding completely.

Forever is part of God’s economy. The Bible has lots to say about that which lasts forever. God Himself not only lives forever in the future, but He never had a beginning. How’s that for an unfathomable fact? He always was, always is, and always will be. That’s why He calls Himself I AM. No one else can claim that identity. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8. ESV).

The word “forever” appears hundreds of times in the Scripture. Here are just a few.

Isaiah 26:4 (ESV) – Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

1 Chronicles 16:34 – Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

John 6:51 – I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 John 2:17 – And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Jude 1:25 – to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Revelation 22:5 – And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

I hope you are anticipating a happy forever. Isn’t it great that it has only just begun?