What is Forever?

Recently my daughter has been asking a lot of questions about heaven and eternity. She is young and knows that God is good, that she has loved ones in heaven already, and that her future will last forever. What she is having trouble with is how her life here on earth will differ from her life in heaven. She wants details. Details like if she doesn't get the opportunity to love someone, get married and have children here on earth, will she get that chance in heaven? Will she remain the same age in heaven? Will she eat in heaven? If she doesn't need her earthly body in eternity, will she have a body? What will it look like? What will she do all day, every day, forever? Forever. What is forever?

I don't have these answers for her. I guess we need to do a biblical word study of heaven. I do know that we'll be reading Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, together soon. It's an excellent glimpse into heaven through the eyes of a little boy. http://heavenisforreal.net/book/ I first read it several years ago after my young nephew was taken to his heavenly home in an accident. God gave our family many eternal blessings through the pain of that trial... and continues to bless us through that event still.

Forever has been on my mind a lot lately. While studying this next verse of thanks (words that we've looked at a few times already) forever is the word that stood out to me now. We've looked at the part "his love endures forever" in Reassurance (Dec 7 '12), A Great Choir (Jan 11 '13), Peace (Jan 24 '13) and just recently in A Mother's Love (May 12 '13).

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Psalm 107 is an urgent recommendation to praise the Lord for his unfailing love because he hears the prayers of those in need and saves them. The composer is urging Israel to thank God for His saving grace once again. His love endures forever! I'll say. God is amazingly patient with us. He loves us and forgives us over and over. And then, rewards us for coming to Him and believing in His grace through the death of His son, Jesus. Our reward is a new life, a spotless and sinless life in heaven... forever.

Take a minute now to thank and praise God with this powerful worship song. If you are unfamiliar and want to listen to it, click the link below. I'll get you started with the beginning lyrics...

Chris Tomlin's Forever

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King

His love endures forever
For He is good
He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise forever

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever and ever, forever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_dsZpcA2R8

As I said before, I find mom to be very wise in hiding this truth in our hearts by insisting that we recite... no pray... no thank and praise God in our daily dinner prayer the words of this verse of Psalms.

I still don't have an answer for my daughter's question, "What is forever?" But I have faith and will teach her that it will be better than we can possibly imagine.

"And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." Revelation 21:10

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b