Being afraid of eternity is a common problem many people struggle with throughout their lives. It is possible for a Christian to be afraid of eternity, but as believers, there is no reason to fear eternity.
What Do Christians Know about Eternity?
If you are a Christian and you are afraid of eternity, rest assured that you can overcome your fear with God’s help. When a person places faith in Jesus, they are given forgiveness for their sins, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and eternal life (John 3:16-17). Eternal life with God will be amazing, wonderful, and joyful.
There will never be a dull moment with our Lord. There is no reason to fear eternity with God because for the Christian, eternal happiness awaits. Paul tells us in the Book of Romans, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (10:13). Included within salvation is the promise that we will never have to fear eternal separation from God in hell.
All Christians will go to be with Christ in heaven when they die. Only unbelievers will go to hell when they die because they never chose to place faith in Jesus (Matthew 25:46). Hell will be a place of eternal agony, pain, and misery. God does not want anyone to spend eternity in hell, which is why He sent His Son to redeem the world.
Only those who place faith in Christ will be saved. A person is not automatically saved when they are born. God wants all people to freely accept Him and acknowledge their dependence on Him. Going to heaven and hell is not based on whether a person was “good” or “bad” during their earthly life.
The Bible is clear that all people are sinners and without the forgiveness provided by Jesus’ death, all people would spend eternity in hell (Romans 6:23). No person can be “good enough” to get into heaven as well all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). A person only goes to heaven when they die if they have placed faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
No amount of “good works” or “good behavior” will save a person. Paul tells us plainly, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Eternal life with the Lord is a gift. It is the best gift a person could ever receive as it will never perish, spoil, or fade away (1 Peter 1:4).
Giving Your Fears Over to God
If you are afraid of eternity, give your anxieties and fears over to the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God knows you have worries, doubts, concerns, and questions.
He wants you to place them all at His feet and not to worry about them anymore. Since you have placed faith in Christ, there is no reason to fear eternity. Ask God to help you relinquish all of your fears about eternity and give them over to Him.
It is normal to wonder or even become afraid about eternity. After all, eternity is forever; however, eternity with God will be paradise (Luke 23:43). It is nothing to be frightened of as Christians do not have to fear the judgment of being condemned into everlasting darkness.
Jesus tells us these comforting words, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). As Christians, we have “crossed over from death to life” and we will now live with the Lord forever for all eternity.
Many people think we will become bored in heaven, but this could not be further from the truth. As C. S. Lewis rightly states, “There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of ‘Heaven’ ridiculous by saying they do not want ‘to spend eternity playing harps.’”
In heaven, God will have unique roles, duties, and responsibilities for each of us to do. We will not be mindlessly floating around on clouds, playing harps. Heaven is a place of happiness, joy, and fellowship with the Lord. The heaven that is in existence now will eventually be destroyed (2 Peter 3:7).
God will destroy the present earth and heaven to create the New Heaven and New Earth (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-27). The New Heaven and New Earth will be perfect, wonderful, and eternal. Revelation 21:4 tells us some information about the New Heaven and New Earth, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This passage of Scripture tells us that God will wipe away every tear we have shed. This passage also informs us that there will be more death, mourning, crying, or pain in the New Heaven and New Earth. There will be no more bad days, struggles, or afflictions in eternity for the believer.
There will only be righteousness, peace, love, security, happiness, and joy. God has promised all believers eternal life (1 John 2:25). Eternity is not something a Christian should be afraid of. Rather, eternity should be something that the Christian looks forward to and finds great comfort in.
The Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption, and He will never leave us (2 Corinthians 1:22). He can help us not be afraid of eternity and provide us with a sense of security of our future home in heaven with God. The only reason a person should be afraid of eternity is if they have not placed faith in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.
The Bible tells us that if a person does not place faith in Christ, they will be eternally separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). God does not want anyone to go to hell, but this is the punishment for those who never place faith in Jesus.
Living in Light of Eternity
Knowing that we have eternal life with God should provide a sense of freedom, security, and peace in our present-day lives. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). As soon as we die, we will go to be with the Lord. Once we are with the Lord in heaven, we will never again have any bad days or struggles.
Eternity with God is a beautiful gift and treasure that we should cherish in our lives. Jesus gives us abundant life at the moment we place faith in Him, and He wants us to live out this abundant life even now in our earthly lives (John 10:10).
The devil wants to keep us shackled in the chains of fear, but we do not have to be held prisoner any longer by Satan’s lies. Jesus died in order for you to have eternal life and abundant life. If you are living in the fear of eternity, you will not be able to live out the abundant life Christ has given you.
By choosing to give your fears about eternity over to God will help you live in the abundant life God has given you. There is no reason to fear eternity because you will be with our Lord and Savior forever in paradise.
As Christians, our hearts should yearn for the day when we will be with Christ. This truth is beautifully illustrated by C. S. Lewis, “The fact that our heart yearns for something earth can’t supply is proof that heaven must be our home.” Earth is not our home, but eternity with God in heaven is our eternal home where there will only be happiness, peace, and love.
For further reading:
Can Christians Be Scared to Die?
Does Salvation Affect More Than Just Eternity?
What Is the Difference Between Heaven and the Eternal State?
What Does the Bible Say about the New Heaven and the New Earth?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/blyjak
