Eternity

If you didn't read my last post, I'm sharing the devotions I'm working on for our upcoming fall retreat for high school students.  I'm hoping you can get something out of them as well as let me know what can be changed to improve it.

In our last “God Time” we focused on the fact that Jesus is our one, true hope. Without Him we have nothing. But with Him we have an eternity in Heaven. And that’s what we are going to look at today: Heaven.



When you think of Heaven, what are some thoughts, words, or pictures that come to your mind?






Instead of coming up with our own ideas of Heaven, let’s see what the Bible says about it.


Read Hebrews 11:11-16.


Think about all of the amazing creation God has made here on earth. What is the most beautiful place in nature you have ever been to? Describe it.














Think about this: If God made something here on earth that beautiful, can you imagine how awesome the city is that God is preparing in Heaven for us?


Read Philippians 3:12-4:1.


Who will be in heaven with us?






What will our bodies look like?










Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. In this passage Paul is comparing his body to that of a tent.


Do you like camping? Why or why not?










Most of us like camping for a short time, but we wouldn’t want to live in a tent for a long period of time. Why?










Think about how our bodies are like tents. They sustain us through this life, but they don’t last forever. They are fragile. They get torn and damaged. And that’s just another reason why we long for heaven. This tent of a body will be replaced with one that will never be destroyed!


The book of Revelation is full of descriptions of Heaven.


Read Revelation 21:1-4 and 21:22-27. What are some things about Heaven in these verses that make you excited?














Revelation 20:10 gives us one of the best parts of Heaven.


“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”


We will never have to deal with Satan, his lies, his schemes, the pain he causes, any of it!






So, Heaven is going to be amazing. Awesome. Beyond our wildest dreams. And the best part is that we get to spend eternity praising Jesus, who is the reason we get to be there at all.


But what does this mean for me right now?


Read Revelation 22:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.


Don’t give up! Life is hard. It is full of struggles, temptations, frustrations, and disappointments. But we must live with eternity in mind! This life is not the end, it’s just the beginning.


Think about all of the day-to-day problems that you encounter. Do they matter, in light of the fact that we have eternity with God waiting for us?














Think about the hard situations you are going through right now. Please be comforted in knowing that it is not going to last forever! Think eternally!