Ever

"O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Psalm 30:12

Do you ever think of forever? I don't know how reading this text can do anything but remind us of the place we will be eternally.

“Ever” may be a little Hebrew word at the end of this sentence, but its meaning is vast. In it there is a depth, a height, a length, and breadth, which passes knowledge. Ever enters the realm only Infinity can comprehend. In this little word our threescore years and ten on earth are a mere speck. The twenty centuries of the Christian era are a dot. The millennia since creation are pebbles next to mountains.

Enclosed in this little word ever, the longest periods of time lose their meaning. They shrink and become far-distant stars. And the further we travel into eternity, the smaller this point called life will appear, until it almost disappears from our memory.

Yet I doubt we will ever entirely lose sight of time. To do so would be to lose sight of our creation and redemption, and the wonders of the cross of Christ in saving our souls. But as the soul advances toward eternity, then finally enters it, time will appear as a twinkling light in far-distant space. Where will ever take you, dear one? Ever is an awful word to the lost. To be,

Ever cast off.

Ever in judgement.

Ever crying.

Ever without hope. 

Ever dying never dead.

But ever is a joyful word to the child of God. The heart pouring forth its loftiest song, "I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Praising for ever, salvation unsought, unasked for, unmerited, and undeserved. "Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.” Amen.