Hennie Symington

Very truly, I will tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does come under judgement, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24

You search the scriptures because you think that in them you will have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39

What are our expectations of eternal life? Like Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, we dread death and dying and wondering about that “something after death,/The undiscover'd country from whose bourn/no traveller returns …”Sometimes it would seem as if we are more concerned with eternal life and what it will be like, than searching for it here on earth and following in the path consistently.  “What will it be like?” we wonder. “Will we feel at home there?” Jesus, understanding our fears and doubts, sets our minds at ease. He calls that place “my Father’s house”, a place where there are many rooms. Furthermore, Jesus reassures us in these words: “I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also.” (John 14:3).  Indeed, eternal life means coming home to the house of our Father.

What an incentive that is for us as pilgrims on our earthly journey, to come home to our Father’s place for all eternity. And what leads us there? The promise of streets paved in gold? No, it will be an eternal promise far greater than that. In the Book of Revelation 21:3-4 we read that the home of God is among mortals. Joy will be the keynote of eternal life where God promises there will be no more death, or hardship and He will wipe every tear from our eyes. Indeed, it is the promise of being in the presence of the Holy One for all eternity. Hallelujah! Amen.

Prayer: Lord, we do not presume to understand the height and the depth of your being and your ways. Yet, you allow us glimpses of heaven in your all-embracing love for us, so that we cannot but live in the hope of eternity, in complete harmony with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen