And the life everlasting

The Apostle Creed is a statement of the beliefs of Christianity. We often recite it in church services. It reads

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

born of the Virgin Mary.

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand

of God the Father Almighty.

From thence he shall come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Something that has always been hard for me to understand is everlasting life. In my mind, eternity is a concept I cannot grasp. It is hard for me to imagine living forever and ever and ever... Forever is a long time! I believe that I will live with God forever in heaven, but I cannot understand forever. It gives me a headache to think about it!

One thing that gives me comfort is the words of the song Hymn of Promise. Written by Natalie Sleeth, it was sung at her husband's funeral shortly after being written. It speaks of life and death, winter and spring, and faith and doubt.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. 

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

When I was young, I use to sing this song all the time. I would often tell my grandma I was going to sing a solo and get out my hymnal and sing it to her. A while back, we sang this song at church. Because it speaks so much about what I do not understand, it was impossible for me to sing without tearing up. I my doubt there is believing. At the end of my life I will find eternity. I do not understand it now, it is something only God can see. Praise the Lord! Help my unbelief!