“. . . the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” – Daniel

Forever—how long is forever?—forever.

When I was a child Christmas took forever to arrive. Trips took forever. Summer vacation would never come—it took forever.

I have a feeling my forever and God’s forever have two distinctly different meanings.

A theme of history is the rise and fall of kingdoms. Although it might seem like earthly governments and kingdoms last forever, their destination is always the archives of history.

The claim of an indestructible kingdom that will endure forever is an astounding claim.

Through the barn-birth, the life, the death, the resurrection, and visible ascension of King Jesus, the forever kingdom is among us. It will last forever.

If I am skeptical of the above sentence, I am free to move through life as I please. I can place my ladder on any wall I desire and start my climb.

However, if I believe the story of the forever kingdom and in the King who sits on the throne, then I can only place my ladder on the King’s wall.

Talk about a reality check.

By the way, if I believe the story, I will not have to exert the energy to climb the ladder.

The King reaches down and transports me to the very top.

That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is the forever kingdom is for servants. There is only one king. The king is Jesus. It’s not me.

I like the part about not having to earn my salvation. That is the absolute truth. Only Jesus can save.

I cannot work my way to a place in the garden. Yet, my security can only exist because of my relationship with the king. I cannot be a subject of the king without being his servant. Servants serve. Servants serve the king and his subjects.

Participating in the forever kingdom places me on the playing field. Jesus sums it up by His charge to love God with everything that is within me and to love my neighbor as myself.

James, the earthly sibling of Jesus, calls faith dead that does not act. His summation is active faith serves widows and orphans.

God’s gift of Jesus is free. Its cost is heavy.

God surrendered His Son. Jesus surrendered His life. I must surrender mine.

Forever is forever.

With everything that is in my “better self,” I want to be willing to meet the cost. I want to live with Him forever.

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells