Eyes of Eternity

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)

This life is short compared to eternity and when it’s over we don’t cease to exist but the spirit and soul move into another realm. When a person moves out of their body they vanish from the temporal and move into the eternal. It’s hard for us because we won’t get to see them again “for a while” but if they belong to God they really have moved on to a better place.

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-4

They have gone on ahead and also await our arrival in eternity. They have followed the path of life to Life Himself and in His presence “is fullness of joy” and at His right hand “are pleasures forevermore!” Ps 16:11

A person who dies in the Lord lives and is surely ecstatic beyond our comprehension. Those who have seen the other side look back form the perspective of eternity knowing that we also will be there in just a moment. For us it’s “the rest of our lives” but for them it’s a only vapor. Very soon we will also be ascending and will fulfill our hearts and enjoy the relationship forever. And then never ever again will death be able to separate us because it’s been defeated. And even tough they are absent from the flesh they are with us in the spirit like the Lord Himself.

Heb 12:1-2
2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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It’s like a one way mirror and we can’t see their side but they can see ours. When we get a glimpse from the scriptures we see them in perfect peace. And when they look back now from their eternal perspective what do they see? And it seems like they would say, “Don’t mourn for me I’m free!” “It’s not like you’re never gonna see me again.” It’s like when a kid goes off to college and the parents cry but the kid says, “It’s gonna be all right, I’ll see you again soon!” Now the Holidays become richer when we get together and for some who have graduated to the next realm we look forward eagerly to seeing them again at the ultimate celebration. God will gather all His in heaven and we will rejoice together at the marriage supper of the Lamb. We will live together forever because we are the family of the Father and He’s made the way to keep us all together. So for now we carry on and take comfort and courage knowing that this is our eternal destiny.

Rev 19:6-9
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, "Write:'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me,"These are the true sayings of God."
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Rev 21:3-6
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
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Rev 22:1-5
22 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
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"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ
Col 2:5

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:1-8

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Ps 16:11

You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Ps 73:24

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
Ps 84:10 NIV

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Cor 15:50-58

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thess 4:13-18

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Phil 1:19-23