If we truly understand and embrace eternity, we will realize that many people are actually not ready to become eternal beings. Some even reject their existence as immortal creatures. Just look at animals. No matter how intelligent an animal may be, it remains an animal. Animals are not aware of, nor do they possess, the components needed to comprehend eternity. Humans are different, for they are given a spirit to understand and experience eternity.
Yet in reality, many Christians, when they reach the point where they must leave this world, are unwilling. At that point, spiritual stagnation occurs—they stop. Honestly, many still want to explore other variations of life here on earth. But we must shift our hearts to the new heavens and earth. Even for preachers—who continually speak about eternity and the Kingdom of Heaven—fully crossing over with the heart is not easy. How much more for those who only listen casually, without seriousness. It is like claiming to believe in God’s existence, but how can we truly have the fear as though standing before His judgment seat? That is not easy.
It is easy to say, “I set the Lord before my eyes,” but in reality, we do not truly live in the awareness of God’s presence. We forget that God is living, and His eyes are watching us, like a hidden camera that is always on. The evidence is clear: we still speak, think, and act carelessly. Indeed, it is not easy to live in the awareness of the living God, because He is invisible. In the same way, it is not easy to shift our hearts just by talking about the new heaven and earth.
We have all surely experienced difficult times. Sometimes we are cornered, and it feels as though God is not defending us. There are even moments when God deliberately brings us into situations where we are humbled, defeated, or blamed—not only by outsiders, but also by those close to us whom we love and trust, yet who betray us. In such moments, we cry out, “Lord, why have You forsaken me?” But in fact, it is precisely in such processes that we learn to live in the awareness that God is alive.
Today, let us make a firm resolve. Let us keep walking, keep soaring, without turning to the right or to the left. The world has entered a time of crisis. With each passing day, wickedness increases. For us who sincerely want to live righteously, it isn’t easy—how much more for those who live half-heartedly. Truly, many people are not ready to become eternal beings. That is why God works so extraordinarily in processing us through various events.
For those who refuse to listen, it makes no difference to them. They remain busy enjoying the world. They say, “What is all this preparation for?” They will not be able to do it, because their hearts are already bound. But we must not judge people from our own perspective. We must judge them from the perspective of Scripture. We must strive to have the mindset of the New Covenant—the mind and heart of Christ, which may seem unnatural for worldly humans. But for those who sincerely desire to cross over in their hearts, they will begin to understand. Honestly, sometimes we feel weary. And that happens because we still have personal pleasures. But when we truly let go of the world and have no joy except in God and His Kingdom, we begin from zero—starting from nothing. We no longer look back. We only want to keep soaring, because there is nothing else worth holding on to.
If someone still delights in the world, they will surely not understand. Even if they are a servant of God actively engaged in ministry, they may still hold on to personal pleasures: enjoying being a pastor, enjoying leading, enjoying preaching because others see them. It does not mean preaching or sharing the Word is wrong—of course, that must be done. But our happiness must not rest in those things. Our joy must be found only in God and His Kingdom.