Eternity Changes
Everything by Stephen Witmer
The future affects the present, not only the way we feel but
the action we take in the meantime. This
new book, Eternity Changes Everything
by Pastor Stephen Witmer is a deep look into eternity, how we view it from a
biblical perspective, and how this can change our life. Written in 12 short chapters, each section is
hard hitting with keen insights into the tension believers face between a
glorious future awaiting us and the present stain of sin in our lives. Building on Revelation 21 as his key text,
Stephen wants us to peer behind the veil and see God’s glorious future in the
new heaven and new earth. What turns out
to be a quick read is actually a very illuminating and powerfully encouraging
book that puts eternity into proper perspective.
Stephen says it rightly near the beginning of the book that,
“The best thing about the new creation is God….You are going to enjoy your
perfect body with God. You are going to
experience a reunion which God attends.
He is what makes the perfect future perfect.” (33) No, it will be amazing that no more tears,
pain, anguish, and sin will be present.
But, let us not fail to forget that God is the one who makes all these
remedies possible and alone should get all the glory. Secondly, Stephen’s take on the kingdom of
God is very helpful in fleshing out the aspects of the already/not theme in the
New Testament. He writes, “So, when
Jesus says, “the kingdom has come,” he means it has come through his life and
ministry as a whole (including the cross and resurrection). Notice Jesus doesn’t say the kingdom will
come. The verb is past tense. It has come.” (40) The kingdom of God is God’s reign and rule
coming in the person of Jesus Christ on the Earth. The beauty of this truth is the way that sin
has been conquered, evil has been vanquished, and Christ has done it all on
earth. Yet, we still feel the ravaging
effects of sin and death upon the Earth, but the certainty of their end has
been deal with in the past.
The rest of the book deals with such pertinent subjects as
patience, restlessness, dealing with the interval time between Christ’s Second
Coming, and heaven. The hope Stephen provides
is reassuring to believers facing the throes of illness, suffering, and the
consequences of sin. This is no book
that recounts the angelic harp vision of heaven that some people speak about,
but a real down to earth vision of eternity and how God will dwell with
men. You will be encouraged and
refreshed as you read this wonderful book.
Thanks to Cross Focused Reviews and the good book company
for the copy of this book in exchange for a review.
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