Forever

Read questions on pg 11.

There is one grand story that all of our individual stories fit into, but if we don’t fit them into the grand story, our smaller ones won’t make sense.

No better place to get the story than from the book of the maker of all life - the Bible.

The evidence is everywhere.

Things aren’t right.

Read pg 16.

Who stole forever?

We all long for a perfect world.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We dream for a perfect world

Friend who has it all, but is generally miserable. (Rich, smart, lives in NY, married to a winner of the Miss America pageant.

Another friend, wakes up every morning, and struggles with the monotony of fixing breakfast, lunch for 3 kids, going to work, coming home, doing dishes, keeping house.

Two very different people, but both long for forever.

An old man’s leg not cooperating is a cry for forever.

The hurt inside a teenager who has been mocked by peers. The cry of a toddler who had a toy wrenched from his hands. Tears of a mom at the end of a talk w/ a wayard son. The anger of a man laid off. the sad silence at a casket.

Forever is more than a hope and dream.

So much of our distress is really a hunger for what will be.

You can’t escape it. You can avoid formal religion, but you can’t escape the longing for forever.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

he has put eternity into man’s heart,

English Standard Version Chapter 8

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Jonathan Edwards,

Stamp eternity on my eyeballs. Jonathan Edwards.

Very little if anything in our current culture and media encourages us to think about forever.

In fact, it’s all designed to cause us to think about here and now. TV, movies, commercials, classrooms,

we think here and now is it, but it is actually preparation for the final destination

We aren’t the center of the universe. present comfort, pleasure, and happiness aren’t the goal

We unwittingly expect people to provide paradise for us.

Peace in this world is found only when we live with the coming world in view.

His promises reach fulfillment in the world to come.

unrealistic expectations always lead to disappointment.

eternit challenges my feelings of futilit by remindiing me that what I am experiencing right now is not permanent.

eternity forces me to face the act that life does have consequences.

We live like schizophrenics.

Forever-ism colliding with now-ism.

Life as it is designed cannot work without eternity.

You won’t see your neighbor driving his boat down the street.

You don’t see bluebirds living underwater.

Are you like a bluebird trying to live underwater?

Forever

We’ve been made for forever.

Forever has been hardwired inside of us.

We have eternity amnesia.

Consequences:

Living with unrealistic expectations.

Focusing too much on self.

Asking too much of people.

Being controlling or fearful.

Questioning the goodness of God.

Living more disappointed than thankful.

Lacking motivation and hope.

Living as if life doesn’t have consequences.

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.