Spoiler Alert: We Know What The Future Holds

A while back, my family found a TV show we all enjoy. It’s clean, it’s cute, and watching it together has become a favorite family past time.

Until recently that is. 

No, the show didn’t take a moral turn for the worst (as many do). In fact the show is still quite good. What happened was, a sweet spunky young niece of mine, that shall remain nameless, spoiled a major detail — like the fact that one of the main characters dies because he wants off the set. And when much of the show revolves around the sweet innocent romance of two lovely characters, losing one of them is a major bummer (relatively speaking, of course).

I don’t even know what season this character will exit the show; in fact, we may have a handful of seasons continuing with the current sweetness. But, knowing where the plot is headed has flavored every episode since.

The Flavor of the Future 

Which got me thinking, if we knew what was around the corner in real-life, how would that flavor our current experience? 

I’m sure there’s some details of life we just don’t want to know ahead of time. For example, it would be hard to process the idea of something that’s presently sweet being sucked out of life as we know it. Knowing those kinds of future details would likely dampen our current experience. 

But on the other hand, something really good around the corner should flavor life too. If you knew that next week you got to take the vacation of your dreams, would that not put a little pep in your step? If you knew tonight you’d get the best food with your best friends, in the most beautiful location, would your hard-working day not feel a little different? 

Undoubtedly, knowing the future would change the present. But in many ways, don’t we already know what the future holds? Not the details of life, of course…but as Christians, we already know our entire eternity will be spent with God on the New Earth! And we know it will be entirely wonderful! That’s something that should certainly flavor every part of life! We know what’s coming, and it is going to be very very good. 

Just consider a few passages that point us to that reality:

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  (John 10:28)

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:12–13)

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:1–7)

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:2–5)

Eternal Bliss

Needless to say, eternity holds a lot to look forward to.

Daily life has so much to get wrapped up in, but no matter how many years we get on this planet, it’s absolutely nothing in comparison to eternity. We will soon be spending hundreds of thousands of millions of years with God! Where there’s nothing bad, where righteousness dwells, where we are fully secure, where God himself will dwell with us in a city he has prepared for us.

The foreknowledge of our upcoming amazing eternity should brighten every moment of life. Even if life right now feels mildly bland, or semi-discouraging, or annoyingly frustrating, or even downright painful …We know what’s around the corner, and it’s nothing but sheer goodness. And that goodness will last a very long time (AKA forever).

Think a bit more of eternity, and let that flavor every day until you get there. In fact, let it put a little extra pep in your step!