Indeed, Quix! It does seem that God's intent is to raise up intelligent beings in His image - and to give them the possibility of approaching Him in great goodness through their own free will and choice - then to live with Him through the ages doing His work. As a Christian, I belive this. I don't know if I will make it. I don't know if it will be fun. But I am sure it will be glorious. And yes, all things of this world, though sometimes reflective of that to come (like music, as an example - and yes, like the Lord of the Rings) - will be mere shadows of that which is to be. Christians can feel and taste the glory of that which is to come, and hope for it with all their hearts.
We can only do what we can do. But HE IS ABLE. HE is the author and finisher of our faith. HE is the one who has declared neither death nor life nor things seen nor things unseen; nor demons etc. can seperate us from the Love of God. HE FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS--EVEN IN US. NOTHING CAN PLUCK US OUT OF HIS HAND.
Yeah, when I've blown it for the nth time 12 ways to Sunday and am feeling like the lowest microbe on the lowest slug in the lowest cesspool of hell, it can be hard to feel convinced of those truths. But we live by HIS WORD, not by our feelings. PRAISE GOD FOR THAT.
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AS TO FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to Godspell long ago ready to be insensed at the blasphemy of it all.
Holy Spirit within me took me to the woodshed over my attitude and perspective. IT WAS WONDERFUL.
GOD IS FUN. I CAN'T IMAGINE ETERNITY BEING ANYTHING BUT INFINITELY *MORE* FUN.
I'm still in the hopefully last 20% or less of the last long dark night of the soul. And mine are dooooooosies. Nevertheless, even in the midst of it, I could detect God's sense of humor.
We may as well laugh--we ain't getting out of it alive unless we get raptured or translated.
And when Scripture says that the suffering of this life is NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED with the glories of the next . . .
and that our suffering is that WE might bear a GREATER WEIGHT of glory in Eternity.
I believe HIM.
The devil's a thief, a murderer and a destroyer. I believe God.
HE has rescued me from myself and from hell and death. He has persistently built me up in spite of my own abilities to tear myself down.
I'M DEPENDING ON HIM TO FINISH WHAT HE'S STARTED IN ME. You can, too.
He means what He says. He does what He says.
Blessings to you and yours this season.
LUB,