Finding Forever

(Finding Forever was the theme of this year's hearts event at Chi Alpha UBelt. Below is a summary of my talk I gave on that event.)

It seems that many people are looking for forever these days. Well perhaps because of the fad TV primetime soap these days that spawned into various “forever”-themed Valentines events this year. What is forever anyway? Google says forever can mean “for all future time; for always,” “continually,” or “lasting or permanent.” We use forever in a relational context to mean a long, happy, and blissful loving relationship between two people.



But why does man pursue forever? The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon observed: “God has planted eternity in the human heart…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We hope for forever because we were made for forever. And we were not just created for forever, we are loved forever by the Source of perfect love—God. This is what God says about you: “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Still for many people in this world, it seems that their mantra in life is that “nothing lasts forever” anymore. This because of sin. Our sin separated us from experiencing the true love that God offers. And because we have a blurred view of this kind of love, it has distorted the way we give and receive love. Truth is whether you claim to be “single and satisfied” or “in a relationship,” you cannot give what you do not have. If God’s perfect love is not in you, you cannot give it away. It’s ironic that many of life’s hurts today are brought about by attempts to love others in a manner short of God’s perfect love. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23).

So is there still hope for forever? Thank God because while sin prevented us from coming to God, Jesus came down and brought this perfect love to us. And what did this perfect love looked like? John, whose nickname is the “Apostle of Love,” says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” John says that this is the highest and purest form of love: when Jesus came down, died on the cross for you and me, and rose from the grave to save us so that we could be with Him forever. Jesus restored the way to forever.

Today you can believe in forever. Because the Bible says, “that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Forever doesn’t start with you, or the other person you’re trying to pursue. Forever starts with God. My prayer is that you’ll muster in your heart to receive his love and forgiveness and start forever with Him. Where do I start? Talk to Him: Admit that you need a Savior because of your sin. Believe that Jesus came and died for your sins, and rose again and defeated sin and death forever. Choose to obey Him all the days of your life.