Temporal or Eternal?

Temporal or eternal? I was thinking about this subject awhile back. No, I wasn’t reading a theological treatise. Instead, I was attempting to clean the floors with a cat and two dogs in the house. I always started the process when the crowd napped in the bedroom. They’d snooze through the sweeping and snore through the vacuuming. But the instant I finished mopping, the circus came to town. “What’cha doing, Mom?” “Hi, Mom, just getting a snack.” “Hey, Mom, I need to go out.” Back and forth, back and forth, until paw prints covered the wet floor. The satisfaction I felt at the completion of a task evaporated in a matter of seconds.

But this doesn’t just happen with housework. How many times do we enjoy a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a great visit with our kids, a relaxing vacation, or a scrumptious dessert, only to think I wish this could last a little longer. Why does it have to end? Let’s face it, joy on this earth can be fleeting. In the wake of emptiness, we find ourselves asking, “Is this all there is?”

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Eccl. 3:11 New Living Translation) The things of this world are temporal. But God has placed a longing for the eternal in us. We know there’s more than what we see. And this points us to the only One who gives our lives true purpose and unfading beauty. Isaiah 25:1 reminds us His plans for us were formed long ago with perfect faithfulness. He is always at work.

Because of what God has done for us through His Son, we can focus on the things that matter most. Though many joys on earth are temporal, the joy of salvation, forgiveness, hope, redemption, and grace is eternal.

So the next time you find yourself a little sad that a great experience couldn’t last longer, be thankful for the wonderful gift you received, then remind yourself of Psalm 16:11: “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (NASB) In God’s presence our joy will never fade. It will last for all eternity.

Now it’s your turn! What do you look forward to enjoying forever in heaven?