We find the word “Eternity” in the book of Isaiah where the prophet writes of God as “… the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and the holy place …” These words are truly deep and lofty and require much divine illumination to appreciate their substance and meaning even in a limited degree. They do, however, indicate that although God is said to rule in the Kingdom of men here in this world, in time, and to dwell in Zion His Church in the world, that He as the infinite and omnipresent God, inhabiteth what the Holy Spirit through Isaiah calls Eternity. In other words, although feeble words, He dwells in a boundless realm beyond this created and visible world in which the children of men live for a while from one generation to another.
The term “Eternity” may properly be taken to mean eternal duration, an endless age; and as in the passage quoted, also a realm beyond this world and time, as far as men are concerned, which God pervades and in which He resides and reigns supremely. And in the light of much scriptural revelation and doctrine, the Christian Church, preachers of the Gospel and believers upon Jesus Christ, think and speak and write of Eternity as of that world which is to come beyond this present world to which all men come at death and through the gates of death; and in which world, that is, Eternity, men must meet with God more immediately and be given their appropriate places of dwelling by Him. Thus at death the soul of man enters the eternal world, as we read: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God, who gave it,” (Eccles. xii. 7); and at the last day and by virtue of the resurrection, the souls of all shall be united to their resurrected bodies, and they each one assigned to their own place openly and finally by the Lord Jesus Christ as the Judge of the world. And herein is endless duration, Eternity, for the righteous on the one hand and the wicked on the other. And so any serious weighty thoughts of Eternity, borne in upon the mind of any through the revelation of God’s truth and by His power, cannot but be inexpressibly solemn.
Now, in this our day and within our land, there are vast numbers of people who contemplate the future without the slightest concern or apprehension about the reality of the eternal world. Of course this even in the land of the Bible, is characteristic of the natural man whose mind is averse to any such consideration. Yet there are powerful influences which contribute to this indifferent and hardened state of mind, such as the inordinate worldliness and materialistic outlook of our day. The fool, of whom the Lord Jesus tells us had much goods laid up for many years and was looking forward to an “indefinite” period of finding his satisfaction and happiness in the same, was summoned into Eternity in a state of mind wholly absorbed with the things of time. “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” was the dread announcement he had to comply with, although previously he had not a thought of Eternity.
Others are mad upon their pleasures, being lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God or His Word, and banish any thought of God or of the possibility of meeting with God in the immediate future and after this world is done with. The intrusion of such thoughts would indeed mar their soul-ruining pleasures, so sweet and desirable to them.
Again many are lulled to sleep and complacency about their personal relationship to a future Eternity, by the false and evil doctrine of their religious teachers. Great numbers of poor sinners are hearing repeatedly that God is their Father, and that they are on the way to heaven and that they have the hope of a glorious resurrection, and that there is no hell, and that everybody will ultimately be better off in the world to come; and all this without any instruction about conversion, faith in Christ Jesus and His precious blood, and the need of evangelical repentance toward God with regard to one’s sins and ungodliness. On this account, death and Eternity are not great solemnities to many, but to be welcomed as a happy release from the troubles of this life — so they think!
Then there are those who attend upon the means of grace, and have been under the hearing of the Word of the truth of the Gospel for years, more or less, and have heard much in their day of the doctrines and truths related to Eternity. Yet they persevere in a life which is one without God, without Christ and without hope. They are hearers only. They do not retire to secret before God to plead in the name of Christ, to prepare them for Eternity. They live outwardly respectable lives, but lives which are devoid of any devotion to the Lord or real marks of those who are preparing for another world.
There are many parts of Scripture where the Holy Spirit draws aside the veil and reveals what shall be true with respect to men after death and at and after the judgment of the great day, in the eternal world. For example, the recorded words of the Lord Jesus Christ regarding the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. The rich man died and was buried, and in hell he lifted his eyes being in torment. The beggar died and the angels carried him into Abraham’s bosom. And of course, Abraham was in heaven. Then in the book of Revelation, John says, “I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. vii. 9, 10.) Then again John records what applies to wicked in Eternity, viz., “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” (Rev. xxi. 8.)
How are sinners exhorted by God in view of Eternity? Well, in one place He speaks thus: “Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O, house of Israel?” And how does He counsel His people? “Abide in him, that when he shall appear, ye may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” And many like words there are throughout the pages of the Word of God. And in respect of the defiant, indifferent and impenitent sinner, it is a fearful thing for such to fall into the hands of the living God in Eternity. And regarding the sanctified believer whose hope is in Jesus, Eternity means to such, a being with Christ which is far better. And so when the place that knows us now shall know us no more for ever, where shall we be in the eternal world? As Job said, “Man dieth and wasteth away, and giveth up the ghost; and where is he?”
May the Holy Spirit come among us, from the Father, through the Son, to work mightily in our precious souls, the good work of grace, which once He begins, He will perform until the day of Jesus Christ. By this work alone can we be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, in Eternity.