Episode 30: The Life Everlasting | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed
The Everlasting Life: What We’re Made For
As we wrap up our study on the Apostles’ Creed, we’ve come to one of the most powerful declarations of hope in the entire confession: “I believe in the life everlasting.” Those words stir something deep in us—an ache, a longing, a homecoming we haven’t yet experienced but somehow know in our bones we were made for.
A World Obsessed With the Future
As we were preparing for this final conversation, our minds jumped back to Y2K—remember that? We were kids at the time, but the uncertainty of stepping into a new millennium was palpable. People were hoarding food, worrying about technology collapsing, wondering if this was it. Even as ten-year-olds, we remember asking, “Is something actually going to happen?”
That whole moment showed us something: people are fascinated and terrified of the future. When we don’t know what’s coming, we start spinning stories—some dramatic, some hilarious, and some rooted in real fear.
But here’s the thing: the Bible doesn’t leave us hanging when it comes to the future. In fact, it speaks with such clarity about everlasting life that it reorients us. We’re not meant to live in anxiety about what’s ahead—we’re invited to live with hope.
Jesus himself says in John 3:16 that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Again in John 6:47: “Whoever believes has eternal life.” And 1 John 5:13 tells us that we can know we have eternal life. It’s not a vague, dreamy maybe—it’s a promise. But as Scripture also teaches, that promise hinges on who we believe Jesus to be.
Made for More
We’ve often said this, and we believe it deeply: heaven is not a place of less. It’s a place of more. More wholeness. More healing. More joy. More presence—especially God’s presence. When we read passages like Revelation 21, we’re reminded that heaven will be the end of pain, betrayal, war, and sorrow. But it’s not just about the absence of those things—it’s about the presence of everything good and pure and beautiful. It’s about all God’s people, past, present, and future, united in a place of perfect peace.
We’ve seen glimpses of heaven even now—moments that feel saturated with grace, laughter, deep connection, or beauty so pure it feels otherworldly. Those glimpses stir up that eternal perspective. They whisper, “You were made for this... and more.”
Even back in Genesis, the enemy’s lie to Eve was, “You will not surely die.” And yet, death entered the story. But through Jesus, death doesn’t get the final word. The story ends in life, and not just any life—everlasting life. The full-circle redemption of Eden.
And so when we say goodbye to loved ones, we don’t say it forever. We say, “See you soon.” Because the promise of eternal life means reunions that never end and goodbyes that are no more.
Imagining Heaven
If we’re honest, the mystery of heaven can be a little intimidating—but also wildly exciting. We’ve loved reading books like Imagine Heaven by John Burke, where stories of near-death experiences line up in intriguing ways with Scripture. And while we never place experience above God’s Word, it’s beautiful to see consistent themes of beauty, love, light, and glory.
Scripture gives us vivid glimpses too. Revelation describes the City of God with streets of gold, a river of life, and a tree whose leaves are for the healing of nations. We’re told there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more mourning. Just presence—God’s presence—and us with Him.
Paul talks about being caught up to the "third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12), which traditionally is understood as the very dwelling place of God—not just the sky, not even outer space, but something beyond all we can see or touch now. And yet, one day, the new heaven and the new earth will be one, fully united. A physical, tangible, joy-drenched place where we live forever with the Lord.
No more chaos. No more separation. No more sorrow.
And so we live now with eyes lifted. We’re not called to escape life, but to live it fully—with the truth of everlasting life shaping how we love, how we hope, and how we face the unknown.
We were made for this.
