Long life

We have a general desire to live a long life. There are physical, and emotional aches and pains along the way, but we are usually looking for something greater, better each day of our lives. Ancient people were very aware of leaving this world and wanted to be remembered. The Thessalonians were very interested in a pathway to eternal life. Pauls wrote, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. Reading scripture guides one to God has put within each of us an inner sense that life on earth is not all there is. 1Thess. 4:13-18 (NIV). This was also a concern in the Old Testament, “[God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Many times there is a small internal voice that causes us to yearn for life with a higher being. This desire is satisfied only via eternal life with God. Paul also wrote to teh Romans, “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen . . . so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20). When we embrace Jesus' gift, just as God lives forever, we who are made in His likeness will also live forever.