How Important is Eternity?

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:31-34

Situated in a pristine part of the wilderness, men gathered around the campfire to promote a beverage product with this slogan: “It doesn’t get any better than this.” However, the myth of Madison Avenue is shattered by the stark reality of Scripture. The Bible is clear that once this physical life is terminated, it will either get a lot worse or a lot better.

Created in the image of God, the spirit of man will live forever - either in the presence of God in heaven, or away from the presence of God in hell. While we make intricate plans for our few decades of bodily existence, it is amazing how few consider the reality of where they will spend eternity.

For the Christian who enjoys material blessings on earth - heaven will stagger him. For the Christian who strains under poverty - heaven will keep him wide-eyed with glee. For the unbeliever, rich or poor, educated or unschooled, urban or rural - hell will be unspeakable, unbearable, intolerable, unending torment - irreversibly severed from God.

Think of a time line of 70 years. Then compare that with infinity. How important is eternity? Do you know where you will spend it?

“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46