It doesn't even come close.

Have you ever experienced something so absolutely amazing you just had to tell someone else about it?

It may have been a beautiful view, a great movie, a good book, or even a sermon that just moved you. Whatever it was, it touched you deeply. So one of the first things you wanted was to share that with someone.

You want to describe it, almost relive that moment and that feeling.

But then you got frustrated because the other person just did not feel the same way you did. They said “that’s nice” instead of “that sounds amazing!” You realized that words simply cannot do it justice. It was a ‘you just needed to be there!’ moment. Try as you might, you just cannot perfectly describe what you saw, how you felt, or what happened to you.

Now imagine a deeply moving experience, one that carries you away soul and body. But this time you are not alone. You are there with others who feel the exact same way you do. Not only is there someone to share the experience with, you know they also feel the exact same way. And, this time your words are perfect.

Instead of falling flat, your words completely embody the moment and even in a sense come alive as you talk about and glory in what happened. Your words perfectly capture the experience. It is enjoyable to discuss and describe.

Do you see the picture? Do you kind of get it?

Wouldn’t that feel absolutely complete and perfect?
Would you be bored?

I doubt it. I bet you would be thrilled and satisfied to the very core of your being. It might feel like ‘all of life is consummated in this one perfect moment so it can just last forever!’

That my friends, is what one second in eternity will be like.

Often when we picture life after death we get a little worried because we tend to view it as one big church service. Oh yay, forever, hymns, singing, sermons, sitting… oh how nice.

Our church services fall short of picturing eternity.

At its best, when everything in the service is dedicated to the glory of God, AND when God’s presence is felt so powerfully, AND when your heart and soul are in tune, AND God is speaking to you, AND you are overwhelmed with love and desire for God – that’s like may be half a percent of what eternity will be like.

It doesn't even come close.

Believer, may we have a correct view of eternity. May we be filled with awe and excitement as we think about the life to come because true excitement is contagious. May we light a community on fire with our joy.