What Does Eternity Mean To You?

ETERNITYWhat Does It Mean To You? Last year, a spectacular fireworks display above the harbor of Sydney, Australia celebrated the beginning of Year 2000. At the end of that celebration the word “Eternity” appeared illuminated on the harbor bridge -- for the whole world to see via satellite television. The One Word Sermon
For 37 years the word “Eternity” has been written anonymously in chalk in an elegant copperplate style, on the sidewalks of Sydney. It became part of that city’s folklore. The word had spiritual overtones -- it was called a one word sermon. It reached beyond the present to touch the conscience. Time without end? Judgment and reward? Immortality? The hopes and fears of all the years are bound up in that one word. The Writer
Arthur Stace was raised in poverty in a family of alcoholics. He was often in trouble with the law. There were two turning points in his life. One day when he attended a church for the food they gave out, he decided to try Christianity. Soon after he started attending church, he heard a preacher exclaim, “I wish I could shout ‘Eternity!’ through all the streets of Sydney!” This thought stuck in his brain as he left the church. He began crying and felt a powerful call from God to write “Eternity” on the pavement with a piece of chalk from his pocket. From that day, his practice was to rise early and pray for an hour. Then he would go where God had directed him, and begin writing “Eternity” every hundred meters or so on the pavement. He’d return home by 10 AM, his message writing complete. What was in that one-word message? Death Is Not The End
The Bible teaches that there is life after death -- David wrote about passing “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4). The invisible human spirit is eternal -- it lives on after the death of the body. Our physical life is perishable and mortal, while the life to come is imperishable and immortal (1 Cor. 15:53; 1 Tim. 4:8), and Christians can look forward to transformed bodies (Phil. 3:21). God has placed eternity in our hearts (Eccl. 3:11), even though we may reject the idea of living forever. Although we live in a world of time, instinctively, we think of “forever.” Beyond this life there is endless time. Two Destinies
The Bible also teaches that there are only two possibilities for everyone in the life to come -- heaven or hell. Heaven is eternal life, and hell is eternal punishment (Mt. 25:46; Gal. 6:8). Eternal life is a gift, a promise and an inheritance that only comes through Jesus, who died for our sins and took the punishment we deserve. Hell is for those who reject and ignore what Christ has done. Eternal death means everlasting separation from God with judgment and punishment that will never end (Rev. 20:6,14; 21:8). Eternity Where?
The image of “Eternity” beamed worldwide on January 1, 2000 should remind us that our decisions can have eternal consequences. Where will you be in eternity? As you think about your answer, look at what the Bible says: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 Jn. 5:11-12). Want eternal life? Accept Jesus as your Savior today. You can get more information about Arthur Stace’s “Eternity” message on the world wide web. For more information about how you can receive eternal life in Jesus Christ visit our salvation page.By George Hawke