The hope of eternity deserves more discussion. Jesus told his disciples that He would be leaving them, but only to prepare a place for them in heaven. He wanted them to trust that He wasn’t leaving them forever. Now that it has been about 2,000 years since Jesus died for us, it may be harder for us to trust that He’s really coming back.
When Christians are questioned about this, many quote that verse in 2nd Peter, chapter 3, about a thousand years being just like a day for God. I used that verse back in the chapter on patience. Whether requiring patience or trust, believing that Jesus is coming back is a pretty essential part of Christian beliefs.
When your doubts start rising, though, it is important to take note of the verse immediately after the ‘thousand years’ verse. I also quoted this in the patience chapter, and it basically says that God is delaying the return of Jesus so that more people have a chance to come to believe in Him. Certainly that is a good reason! God’s patience, which we see as a delay, is for the salvation of others. The more people in heaven, the better!
There will be plenty of room. Jesus described heaven as a house with many rooms. I don’t know how literal He was being in this description, but I certainly hope this house has a music room!
No matter when the world ends, our own lives will end here on Earth before much longer. I’m not trying to be depressing, but compared to eternity, we don’t have much time left here! The thought of heaven should never be depressing, though. Have you ever been in a brightly lit room, then gone outside in the midday sun, and then come back inside? It's not so bright anymore, is it? What we think of as good here in this life will be as nothing in heaven.
So let us trust that God has a plan for when Jesus will return. Our only task is to make the most of our time here on Earth, helping to fulfill God’s desire that more and more people will be saved. The rest of that chapter in 2 Peter tells the believers that because we know Jesus is returning, we should make every effort to live holy lives now, and to be at peace with God. If we have any trust in God, we need to act as if Jesus were coming this very moment!
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:2-3