"Early In Eternity"

   When praying for some dear friends many years ago (who have since departed to be with the Lord), I used a phrase that had never occurred to me.  "Father, I thank You that although it is late in Mr. and Mrs. Hawkin's earthly lives, it's early in eternity."

    Early in eternity.  The words intrigued me, first because they involve somewhat of a contradiction.  "Early" is a word that has to do with time and the sequential passage of moments.  Conversely, "eternity" addresses God's own being and a state of reality beyond and far different than the temporal.  "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (II Peter 3:8).  We actually have no frame of reference for the eternal state of being that will characterize our forever in the presence of the One who dwells "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2).  We know that it exists, and born again believers already possess eternal life in Christ (John 17:3).  However, the reality and consciousness of forever will likely be far different than we expect, or can presently imagine.  If we allow ourselves a bit of license, however, of this we can be sure: it's always early in eternity.

    Again, the phrase fascinated me, so much so that I felt a song might proceed from the contemplation.  It did, and here are the lyrics, offered with much gratitude for Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, and for all our brothers and sisters who have gone on to be with our Lord.

An old man sits by a dying fire,

dreaming sweet, sad dreams 

of days gone by.

And he wonders how time slipped away,

but then He smiles as He hears

the Spirit say,

That it's early in eternity,

and his blessed Lord he soon will see.

And the woman that he loved so well

will stand beside him with so much to tell.

He lived a life so pure and fine,

for his blessed Lord he kept in mind.

And though his days on earth are soon to fail,

a quiet joy still in his heart prevails.

For it's early in eternity,

and his blessed Lord he soon will see.

And the woman that he loved so well

will stand beside him with so much to tell.

The embers fade as his eyes grow tired,

and the day's last prayer he gently sighs.

And as he rises from his old soft chair,

he knows that very soon he will be There...

He's glad that very soon he will be There.

For it's early in eternity,

and his blessed Lord he soon will see.

And the woman that he loved so well

will stand beside him with so much to tell.

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

(I Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Weekly Memory Verse

     He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name.

(Luke 1:49)