Nov 44 min read

Beyond the Temporal: Embracing God's Eternal Plan

The Unseen Eternal Plan: Finding God in Life's Transience

“I know that everything God does will last forever; nothing increases and nothing decreases. God did this to make people fear before him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

Have you ever pondered the concept of "eternity" or sensed its presence in your life? For those who do not believe in God, the idea of eternity may seem distant, perhaps even irrelevant. Yet, even without a conscious belief, glimpses of eternity can sometimes breakthrough in our daily experiences, stirring something deep within us.

As a child, I had a vague awareness of eternity. I remember watching the sunrise; feeling assured that tomorrow would bring another dawn. I would gaze at the night sky, marveling at the distant, twinkling stars, sensing that they existed within the realm of eternity. These moments, though fleeting, connected me to something beyond the limits of time, hinting at the vastness of eternity.

Beyond the Temporal: Embracing God's Eternal Plan

However, it wasn’t until I came to know God that this awareness of eternity began to deepen and take root in my life. Each year, I found myself increasingly attuned to the eternal nature of the world around me—the blooming and withering of flowers, the rhythm of sunrise and sunset, the gentle breeze, the rustling grass, the song of birds. All these things began to speak to me of something far greater and more enduring than their temporary beauty. They pointed me toward the existence of God, the Eternal One.

With this growing understanding, I began to realize the transient nature of everything I could see and touch. Our lives, like the flowers and grass of the field, are destined to wither and fade. As Scripture reminds us: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) This realization brought me to a place of deeper reflection on the things that truly last.

Yet, in the very cycle of decay and renewal, there is a revelation of eternity. The withered vegetation returns to life with each passing season, flourishing once more. Isn’t this a glimpse into the eternal? Isn’t it a reminder that there is an Eternal Master, orchestrating the cycles of life and death? He is God, who holds everything in His sovereign hands.

In this world, some things are caught in the eternal cycle of renewal, while others are left behind. But who decides what endures and what fades away? It is the sovereign hand of God, the Master of the universe, who ordains what will last and what will pass away.

Our lives, too, mirror these flowers and plants. Some will vanish into eternity, never to be seen again. But others will not only reappear but will also flourish with greater beauty, bearing fruit that endures forever. For some, death is not an end but a passage to resurrection. The relationship between us and God determines this outcome. As Ecclesiastes 3:14 reminds us, “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.”

Reflecting on this, I believe that God guides us through life's trials and triumphs, gradually bringing us to a place where our faith rests solely in Him. As we journey through life, God slowly detaches us from worldly possessions and relationships, even from life itself. What once seemed indispensable gradually fades in importance as we realize that knowing God is the greatest treasure of all. Over time, we come to see that God is enough, filling our hands with His presence after all else has been stripped away.

Writing these words, I am keenly aware that I only partially grasp their full meaning. At this stage of my life, I still hold many things dear—my family, friends, career, health, desires, and dreams for the future. Yet, the process of growing older teaches us to hold these gifts lightly, recognizing that we cannot keep them forever. At any moment, God may choose to take them away—one by one, or all at once. Or He may even reclaim the life He gave us at birth.

All things in this world are temporary, and we cannot take them with us. Some of you may be in the midst of a great struggle, clinging to something you are afraid to let go of. But let go you must, and let go you will. While you may not spare the pain of surrendering your dearest treasures to God, I promise that the joy to come will far outweigh the pain you feel now.

Eternal Father, teach us to release what we cannot keep, and to hold fast to that which endures forever. Amen.

Do you know God who holds your life and all of eternity in His hands? and do you fear Him? Do you desire to know God's Eternal plan for you?