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Eternity

Nov 12
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Is it Really Possible to Live Forever?

By Aging, Eternity, Resurrection No Comments

“Can Science Cure Death? It Sure Looks Like It.”

“Can Google Solve Death?”

“With Brain Preservation, Nobody Has To Die.”

These are just a few of the headlines that caught my attention recently while preparing for a message on the future resurrection of saints. One author claimed that microscopic robots repairing our bodies on the cellular level will be the key to overcoming the Grim Reaper. Another proposed cryopreservation as the means of conserving our brain identity and structure, making it possible to create a new, digital existence simply by uploading the content of our gray matter. The common denominator of each article, though, is that giving science a bit more time is the key to our achieving biological immortality.

While reading, my mind continually returned to the book of Hebrews, which plainly states every person has an appointment with death, followed by the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Scripture unapologetically and indiscriminately insists human mortality is a reality for all due to our inherited sin nature (Rom. 5:12). Avoiding our end is impossible despite the marvels of modern medicine or the advancements of contemporary technology.

I understand the ambition to dodge death, but our only real hope is to defeat it entirely. Therein lies the pastoral heart of the Apostle Paul as he writes to the Corinthian church seeking to explain the various reasons we should anticipate our future resurrection, why we need it, and how we should respond in the meantime.

Because Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead serves as the foundational cornerstone of Christianity (1 Cor. 15:3-4), its inextricable link to our coming victory over death is no surprise. Simply put, if we are not raised from the dead there is no reason to believe that Jesus ever was (1 Cor. 15:13, 16). Inversely, if Jesus indeed rose on the third day, we should never doubt our ultimate victory over the grave (1 Cor. 15:20).

But how is it possible for a corpse to live again (1 Cor. 15:35)? To answer, Scripture points us to the principles of cultivation and the process of creation. Just as a seed sown in the ground is fundamentally different from beautiful plant that emerges, so, too, these bodies of ours will lay down in destruction only to rise demonstrably better than what we buried (1 Cor. 15:36-38). In both instances, death gives way to life anew.

Furthermore, because our God clothed human beings, beasts, birds, and fish with a physical dwelling from the very beginning, giving us a new body in the resurrection poses no particular problem. If the sun, moon, and stars, along with all other heavenly bodies, were covered with glory, why do we worry about what is ahead for us (1 Cor. 15:40-41)? The sovereign Creator of heaven and earth has unlimited creativity and unparalleled beauty in His heart, which means only His divine imagination can limit our immortal state.

But why is the resurrection essential? Why not avoid death altogether? Since the Garden of Eden, sin’s curse hangs over all of humanity, ultimately ending in our demise apart from God’s intervention (Rom. 5:18-19). Thus, these bodies of ours are perishable, dishonorable, and weak (1 Cor. 15:42-44). Simply put, our biological clocks will wind down one day. The wrinkles around our eyes, the thinning of our hair, the soreness in our joints, and dimness of our vision betrays us. So, through a monumental act of grace, God promises to raise us in immortality, glory, and power.

Our glorified bodies will be recognizable, just as Jesus was after the cross (John 20:24-29; 21:1-14). Life that was previously impossible will soon be available as we live free from temptation, sickness, and sadness (Rev. 21:4). Finally, with death swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:53-54), we will bear God’s image perfectly, living according to His original intent as stewards of His new heaven and earth (Gen. 1:26-28).

So how should we respond to these glorious truths? Three simple concepts capture the practical urgency of our forthcoming immortality (1 Cor. 15:58). Be steadfast. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep living by faith. Immovable. Stand firmly upon the gospel. Resist the wisdom of men. Do not bend to the winds of relativism. Abound in the work of the Lord. Keep serving faithfully. Keep giving sacrificially. Keep loving relentlessly. Keep suffering joyfully. Keep enduring until the very end! Remember, you will reap if you do not grow weary (Gal. 6:9).

The hope of resurrection was never meant to be put on a shelf, only to come down for theological discourse or debate. Instead, every day we live while perishing should anchor our hearts to the imperishable life that awaits. When death finally knocks on your door, only what you have done for Jesus will last. When you open your eyes in eternity, all that will matter is who you are in Jesus. When your loved ones gather around your grave, all that will remain is the hope you have in Jesus.

Adam B. Dooley
November 12, 2025

Oct 07
Love0

Unexpected Birthday Blessings

By Aging, Birthdays, Christian Living, Eternity, Salvation No Comments

The older I get, the faster birthdays seem to come around. Admittedly, celebrations look much different as an adult than they did during my childhood, yet every trip around the sun is a gift worth commemorating. My life is full of people that I love, colleagues that I appreciate, a calling that invigorates me, and blessings borne out of walking with the Lord from an early age. Truly, God’s lines for me have fallen in pleasant places and His mercies overwhelm me (Ps. 16:6).

Though aging can bring with it some less appealing changes (Ecc. 12:1-8), the fruit of longevity also ushers numerous treasures that are typically foreign to youth. While I do not consider myself to be an old man, serving as a middle-aged pastor certainly feels different than when I began in my early twenties. With each passing birthday, God seems to drop new joys into my life.

For instance, the longer we live, the more wisdom we tend to acquire. Obviously, there are exceptions to this principle, but generally, the more mileage we have in the rearview mirror, the more equipped we are to judge our surroundings with insight and discernment (Job 20:29.) While young men tend to glory in their strength, and rightly so, gray hair is just as honorable later in life because of the wisdom that so frequently accompanies it (Prov. 20:29).

Biblical exhortations reinforce these expectations. God commands older men and women to model godly behavior for those who are younger precisely because aging helps Christ followers to mature (Titus 2:1-8). Good deeds, sound doctrine, reverence, dignity, and sensibility are the outcomes of Christian maturity. No wonder Scripture insists that we respect those who are older even when they stumble in the faith (1 Tim. 5:1-2). Granted, adding years does not guarantee spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:1-3), but it should at least compel us to evaluate our progress in the Lord.

In addition, advancing in age should increase our awareness of and our need for God’s daily provisions and care (Ps. 71:9), furthering our opportunities to praise Him (Ps. 71:18). The promises surrounding eternity also become more precious as our conversation and thoughts turn toward our forever home (Phil. 3:20-21).

These contemplations are not morbid, though, because they bring with them a renewed awareness of each day’s value. By numbering our days, we learn wisdom and godliness with greater urgency (Ps. 90:12). Tucked away in the book of James we discover what I believe is the key to maximizing every day that God gives us. “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow,” insists James. “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14).” In other words, the only certainties in life are its unpredictability and its brevity.

The blindness of life gives us needed perspective. Living into old age helps us to realize how little we can control. Much of our daily reality is the opposite of what we anticipated in previous years. Our lives are full of many good days, for which we are thankful, but also many difficult days. We anticipate having children, but not miscarriages. We expect golden anniversaries, but not divorces. We look forward to milestones and accomplishments, but we never daydream about funerals. We hope for laughter, but we don’t foresee all the tears. But the blindness of life is valuable because it compels us to live each day to the fullest. Our ignorance about the future helps us to be more intentional about the present.

The brevity of life gives us clear priorities. Scripture compares our time on earth to a vapor that appears for just brief time. We are like the morning dew that is gone by noon. Like steam from a stove that disappears in an instant. One day you’re young; the next day you’re old. One day you start your first job; the next day you’re retiring. No matter how much we try, we cannot slow time down. If we aren’t careful, our best plans will slip away from us and never materialize.

Most of us fall victim to the lie that we have all the time in the world to turn our good intentions into reality. Thus, James 4:16 adds, “As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” Regarding our relationship with God, these deceptions can be devastating. We often comfort ourselves with time that we may not have.

So, what is the greatest birthday lesson of them all?

The time to know God, love God, and serve God is NOW. Any priorities we are putting off until later need to move up on our to-do list. Every single birthday is a gift that cannot be covered by wrapping paper or topped with candles. We should learn from the past without living in the past (Ecc. 7:10). We should devote each day to the Lord (James 4:15). And we should trust our unknown future to our eternal Savior (Job 23:13-14).

I am thankful for another year of life and all the lessons that arrived with it.

Adam B. Dooley
October 7, 2025l

Jun 12
Love0

When Faith Becomes Sight?

By Eternity, Future, Heaven No Comments

To the world, she was Francis, but to us she was Nanny. I first met her when my wife and I were dating. After eating at her table for the first time I knew this was a family I wanted to be part of. Even better, though, was the example set by her and her husband. The two were married for 64 years, providing an inspirational path to a young couple trying to find their way. As my wife’s grandmother on her mother’s side, she passed on her gentleness and warmth to the woman I love. She quickly became like another grandparent to me.

A few days ago, Nanny stepped into eternity to meet the Savior she loved. Even in our sadness as a family, the thoughts of her faith becoming sight give us great joy. Though we grieve today, we do not do so as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Both my wife and I live with the assurance that we will see her again.

But what will it be like when we do?

For some, discussions about eternity are no more than wishful thinking. Others imagine our forever abode as unappealing and boring. Mark Twain illustrated our hesitation through his fictional character Huck Finn, who thought heaven was a place where a person would “go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever.”  No wonder one skeptic remarked, “I’d rather be in hell with my friends than in heaven with all the church people.”

But are these characterizations fair? Is eternity just a never-ending church service? Should we really look forward to life after grave? Thankfully, the caricatures of heaven found in popular culture do not align with the biblical vision of eternal life. So, what can we expect in the land beyond the blue?

Heaven is a physical place. The Bible refers to heaven as both a country and a city. The description is appropriate because Romans 8:19-23 indicates that the created cosmos will one day be redeemed along with born again believers. The Apostle John describes the heavenly Jerusalem descending from heaven in order to function as the capital city of God’s kingdom (Rev. 21:2). The dimensions of this central municipality reveal its massive presence. With a length, width, and height of 1500 miles, a city this size would stretch from Canada all the way to Mexico, having the potential for over 600,000 stories rising into the air. Descriptions of heaven’s foundation, streets, and gates also underscore its physicality.

We will have physical bodies in heaven. Since Jesus is preparing a material home for our dwelling (John 14:1-6), it is no surprise that Scripture also teaches that we will have physical bodies once we arrive there. Just as God gives bodies to beasts, planets, the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15:39-41), we, too, can expect eternal bodies that will never die in the place called heaven (1 Cor. 15:42-44).

Still not convinced? The Apostle Paul maintains an inextricable link between the past resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of saints (1 Cor. 15:12). Stated, differently, if there is no future resurrection of the dead, we have no assurance whatsoever that Jesus Christ was physically raised from the dead either (1 Cor. 15:13-17). Praise God that death is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54)!

Continuity exists between this life and the next. Perhaps the greatest insight into our eternal paradise is the Garden of Eden. Though Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, His plan for them was eternal life where they would oversee and care for all of creation (Gen. 1:28). After the Fall, God drove them out of the Garden, but the rest of the Bible depicts His efforts to reclaim and restore all that was lost due to sin. Like a bookend to the story, the concluding chapters of the Bible (Rev. 21-22) celebrate the victorious redemption God will provide. But can you imagine the kind of world Adam and Eve could have built had they never died? Or if sin never hindered them?

Despite humanity’s fallenness, we currently enjoy technological and sociological advancements. Food, laughter, joy, and entertainment are blessings to our world even though we are not experiencing God’s original design for our existence. If these pleasures are still available now, can you even imagine all that God has planned for eternity? Think of heaven as thriving society where we continue to enjoy parks, theatres, museums, restaurants, concerts, parades, libraries, etc.

Seem far-fetched? Just ask yourself what kind of world Adam and Eve could have built had they never died? What contributions will we be able to make to the progress of history if the grim reaper never knocks on our door? How much music could Beethoven create? How many plays could Shakespeare write? How many inventions could Edison create? What if the greatest athletes never retired? What if history’s greatest performers could entertain us forever? What if you never had to say goodbye to your loved ones? What if our Nanny could still prepare a feast every Sunday afternoon? Simply put, what could we all accomplish if we lived forever?

The greatest reality of heaven, though, is that God will be there. Just as God walked with Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8), He will be among us again in our eternal home (Rev. 21:3). We will see His face (Rev. 22:3-4) and the glory of Christ will illuminate that city. Once again, we will know eternal life and we will enjoy our God forever.

Adam B. Dooley
June 12, 2025

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