Forever

I like the concept of "Forever Stamps." Purchase them today and in 10 years, if you find one hiding in your desk drawer, you can stick it on the envelope and the Post Office will honor it. That's what forever means. It will always be valid, honored and accepted. Period. Forever is a long time. A lot longer than you or I will be around. I suppose that some may point out that the "Forever Stamp" is based upon the good faith and credit of the United States of America. Ok, so I guess we should qualify forever as lasting as long as our government does. That still sounds like a long time. Maybe not forever, but still a long way out.

In the Bible, the word "forever" means "forever." In ancient Hebrew, the word meant something that had a continuous existence or described by the word "always." One could define forever as everlasting, perpetual and with an unending future. Eternal.

Only God is eternal. Looking into the past or the future, there is no beginning or end to God. Only God can truly declare something to be "forever." Like His name. When Moses was sent to Egypt, he asked God, "Who should I say sent me?" God answered, "The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever." Or consider God's promises. To Abraham God said, "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." Or consider the memorials that God established for the people of Israel. Like the 12 stones placed in the middle of the Jordan River, reminding the people of Israel of God's ability to do what He says. God said, "These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." About 290 times the word "forever" is used in the Bible. When God says "forever," He means FOREVER.

That is good news for us, for we can take God at His Word. His promises are never retracted. God isn't going to say one thing and do another. When God says that "if you seek Me you will find Me if you search for Me with all your heart," it is always true for all people who seek after God, for God's promises are forever. When God says that "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and "I will not abandon you like orphans," He means it. It is a forever promise. When Jesus said that we are in His Father's hands and nothing and no one can ever take us out of His hand. That is a forever promise. These promises are forever as long as God is around, which is for eternity. And those who take God at His Word and put their trust in Him will be with Him forever. Now that is a great concept, that one day we will be with God forever, and forever praising Him.

Forever His,
Pastor Pete