Scientists report that the ice from the polar ice caps is disappearing at a rate of one trillion metric tons a year. A trillion is an immense number, but it helps if we put that number in context. The polar regions contain an estimated 7 quadrillion tons of ice. A quadrillion is a thousand trillion. So, at the current rate it would take 7,000 years for the polar ice caps to melt.
Seven quadrillion absolutely dwarfs one trillion. If you focused all your attention on the one trillion and never considered the 7 quadrillion metric tons of remaining ice you would not have an accurate picture of what is going on.
Here’s another example of where people tend to concentrate their attention on a small part and lose sight of the staggering immensity of the remaining part. The average lifetime of a man or woman is about 73 years. Most of us try to cram all the living we possibly can into those years. However, the years of our lives on earth is only a small part of our total existence. We will continue to exist for eternity!
How big is eternity? It absolutely dwarfs the number of years of our lives on earth. Its immensity is so great that it exceeds our powers of imagination to conceive it. Yet how many of us are living like this one short life is all that matters!
Consider the Vast Future
How many of us never stop to think of the vastness of eternity? Those who go through life focused only on things that won’t last forever, will get a great shock when they enter into eternity. Because they have ignored God, they will spend eternity in the darkness of hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:3030And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)). The company people will keep in hell consists of the devil and his angels as well as all those who refused to hear the call to repent and believe in the Savior. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burn[s] with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)). The amount of time people will spend in the darkness of hell, absolutely dwarfs their short lives down here. In fact, it can’t really be properly called time since time, with the changes it brings, will no longer exist. What a mistake people make by thinking this short life is all there is!
Eternity is ahead for all of us. However, no one needs to perish in hell. All are invited to repent and renounce their sins, and to turn by faith to the God who made them. So sinners who have wandered away from God may find their way back to Him, God sent the Son of His love into this world. Because Christ died and rose again, sinners who deserve hell, may receive the gift of eternal life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
In heaven they will be given changed and glorified bodies that will never grow old, or feel pain again. For all eternity they will delight in the love of God that passes knowledge; and that love will fill them with inexpressible joy. In heaven they will see God face to face, and they will keep the company of the holy angels and of all the saints who have ever lived and died in faith. They will never run out of wonderful things to enjoy together. How long will that eternity of bliss last? For a quadrillion years? No, it will last forever!
The years of our lives are essentially nothing when compared to the vastness of eternity. Will you believe in the Lord Jesus and have an eternity of bliss ahead of you? Or will you continue to try to find your contentment by focusing on this life as if this life is the sum total of all your existence? Don’t make this terrible mistake when eternity in all its sweeping vastness lies just ahead. Polar ice caps might come and go but you will exist forever. Come by faith to the Lord Jesus and receive everlasting life.
Many people worry about changes. Why not get the facts on a huge change that’s in the near future? Read Global Climate Change.