The story behind the word eternity commemorated the life of a man who died at the age of 83 in 1967. Arthur Stace wasn’t a history-making politician or a world-class athlete. He had virtually no education and from the age of 15, his criminal activities led to a succession of jail sentences. During the years of the Great Depression, he lived on handouts and slid further down the road to alcoholism. Yet the story of his life is told all over the world today because of one single word that impacted his life – ETERNITY.

In 1930 Arthur Stace found himself in a local church service and his encounter with God changed his life forever. It was the word eternity that stuck in his mind and discovering a piece of chalk in his pocket, he felt compelled to write it on the pavement. For one who could hardly write his own name, he found he could write eternity quite eloquently.

For the next 37 years, Arthur Stace would wake up early and, after an hour of prayer and as God directed, he would write his word in chalk on the sidewalks of Sidney. Over the years that one word sermon became the object of much public speculation and curiosity as many contemplated its meaning.

Arthur Stace found a Savior and a cause worth living for and a cause worth dying for. We will all physically die one day but what will we leave behind? On this side of eternity we have one opportunity to choose how we live our lives.

In high school I had an old blue ’55 Ford with a bumper sticker on the back that read “Life is short but eternity is sure.” Some of my classmates laughed at me and called me a Jesus freak. But sadly I saw many of them die at a young age and go into eternity. My two teen-age brothers and a cousin were hit head-on by a drunk driver – they were killed instantly. They had experienced the mercy and grace of God through Christ Jesus and I have the hope of seeing them again in eternity in heaven. (See John 1:12.) Many people live their life without ever thinking about where they will spend eternity.

The Word of God says this, “He has made everything beautiful in his time; he has also set eternity in their hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We were made to live forever with God. Sin marred God’s creation and brought death and separation from God. The good news is that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus promised His children a place in heaven. (See John 14.) Do you ever stop and wonder about heaven and eternity? Do you ever think, “I wonder what it actually sounds like? I wonder what it smells like? What does it really look like? How about the music? Is it soft or loud? How about the food? Does their face get sore from smiling so much? What do you wear in heaven? Do those mansions really exist?”

On doesn’t have to wait to get to heaven to enjoy heaven. We can have heaven on earth, a foretaste of glory in our hearts. Heaven should not be a remote, distant, obscure, or mystical concept. When we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, we receive eternity in our soul. When God’s people love and worship Him, the Word of God says that He rides the heavens and comes to dwell among us. When God comes into our lives and hearts – His goodness, grace, blessing, abundance, joy, power, and fullness fills our lives. We receive a cause and purpose for life, and the right to celebrate in God’s kingdom for eternity.

God desires everyone to spend eternity in heaven. He sent His only begotten Son – Jesus – to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus arose from the dead and walks with His children on the journey from here to eternity. (See Revelation 3:20.) A friend once gave this testimony – “Life is short - eternity is long - heaven is real – hell is hot – our message is Jesus.”

Do you know where you will spend eternity? By God’s grace you can move beyond your world and into God’s heaven above.

A – Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)