Each morning, I meditate upon a triplet of related mantras: “The Hesed of the LORD Endures Forever”; “The Hesed of the LORD Redeems Forever”; and “The Hesed of the LORD Blesses Forever”.

These mantras have many applications. But, now that I am 70 years old, my thoughts often turn to their implications for life after death. (See my blog “Life After Death”).

The fact that the Hesed of the LORD endures forever is the principle that undergirds life after death.

It also undergirds why we will enjoy life after death.

The Hebrew word “hesed” has no exact equivalent in English. Therefore, to capture the meaning of the Hesed of the LORD requires a list of words from English:

     —Faithfulness. (Psalm 117:2 NIV).

     —Love. (Psalm 136 NIV).

     —Mercy. (Psalm 136 KJV).

     —Steadfast love. (Psalm 136 ESV; Exodus 34:6-7).

     —Lovingkindness. (Psalm 136 NASB).

     —Kindness. (Micah 6:8).

I don’t know the specifics of what I’ll enjoy about life after death. I don’t believe I will literally spend it sitting at a table dining on delicious foods and drinks.  I don’t believe I will literally play a harp.

But I do believe that, for all Eternity, I will experience (and share with others) HESED:

—Faithfulness;

—Love;

—Mercy;

—Steadfast love;

—Loving kindness; and

—Kindness.

I say “for all Eternity” (instead of “for all time”) because time will end, but Hesed endures forever, as we enjoy a banquet of faithfulness, love, mercy, steadfast love, loving kindness, and kindness while praising the LORD with our new song.

One way of understanding time is that it is the chain of causes effects in our life and our universe. This chain of causes and effects is broken by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ—who embodies the Hesed of the LORD. We become a new creation in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:19-22; Revelation chapters 21 & 22).

Another way of grasping that Hesed endures forever (even after time  ends— is to grasp that our Sun will burn out, but that Hesed will still endure.

As we sing in the hymn “Amazing Grace”:

When we’ve been there 10,000 years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Then when, we first begun!

FOREVER TRULY IS FOREVER!

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you believe Hesed endures forever? How? Why?

Do you believe that time is the chain of cause and effect in our life and universe? How? Why?

Do you believe that the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ breaks the chain of causes and effects in our life and our universe? How? Why?

Do you believe that time (the chain of cause and effect in our life and in our universe) will end, but that Hesed will endure forever? How? Why?

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For related thoughts, please read the chapter “Celebrating”—the conclusion of my book Visions of the Church, at pages 21-222 and read “Part Five: Best Friends”—the conclusion of my book Lighting the World, at pages 155-186.