If we have received the eternal life in us, then we have also come into a glorious and everlasting work. Therefore we have every reason to rejoice in the hope of all the glorious and interesting things we will experience in eternity.
Eternity: The kingdom of the living
Jesus said that the people who fear God and believe in Him will never die (John 11:26). They will never go down to the world of the dead, but they will enter into the kingdom of the living together with Christ and all the other people who are made alive and are glorified. God does not even think that His natural creation is good enough for His saints, He will create a new heaven and a new earth for them, where righteousness will rule (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession [on the day that I create – Norwegian translation], and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” Malachi 3:17-18 (ESV).
Just think about all the activity and glory there will be in all the new things God will create! “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him ...’” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV).
Those who overcome as He overcame shall sit together with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). And from this throne, a tremendous activity will go out for all eternity. There will be living creatures with wheels that fly back and forth like lightning, according to the activity of the Spirit (Ezekiel 1). The seven torches, which are the seven Spirits of God, will burn; and lightning, voices, and thunder will go out from the throne (Revelation 4:5).
God’s activity on earth today
Today, God’s work is first of all to prepare a bride for His Son, Jesus Christ; and to save as many souls as possible from the power of sin and Satan. His angels are also along in this work. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 (ESV). The power of Satan will be crushed, and all the enemies of Christ will be gathered to be a footstool for His feet (Hebrews 1:13). Then the ungodly will forever be finished with all they do, and the godly will begin to be active and work as never before.
We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that the Antichrist (the lawless one) will come through the powerful working of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders. We experience this today as never before. Christ is fighting a great battle against all this evil activity through the Spirit of truth. If we are not wholeheartedly taking part in this work now, in doing what is good and fighting against what is evil, then we won’t have a part in the work that is to come. God does not place “spiritually lazy” people on the throne of His glory.
Paul thanked God constantly for the Thessalonians’ work of faith and love (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The more we share in the true godly life, the more active we become in doing good, because life is being active. If we come away from this way of life, we will end up in the assemblies of the dead, instead of in the church of the living God where there is life, growth and progress.
Judgment according to what we have done
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV).
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 (NKJV).
Time is short, and we will be placed in eternity according to the works of faith that we have done here on earth. We must therefore come together to encourage one another to love and do good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Peter exhorts us as a royal priesthood to make every effort to add to our faith virtue, and to show forth the virtues of Christ (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:5).
Let us take the apostles' exhortations to heart so that there will be a living and powerful activity in all that is good. Christ is coming soon, and He will reward us richly.