Question 48: Eternity

Paul encourages believers facing hardship by giving them an eternal perspective. He declares that the challenges they faced paled in comparison to the joy that awaited them with God. Paul isn't minimizing pain but placing it within the scope of eternity. Paul understands that how people view the future directly affects how they live in the present. They will grieve differently and relate to others in more life-giving ways (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Understanding eternity offers hope and brings conviction. Their lives really do matter. The choices they make, whether for Christ or apart from him, have eternal consequences...