Eternity is Not Delayed—It’s Guaranteed
A new day reminds us that eternity is already written into the heart of time.
Devotional Credit:
Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit:
Unsplash
Today’s devotional by Bob Hoekstra reminds us that the return of Jesus and the renewal of all things isn’t just a hopeful thought—it’s a promised reality. Though it may feel delayed from our earthly point of view, God is never late. His longsuffering is not a sign of hesitation but of mercy. He is not slow in keeping His promises. Rather, He is patient, allowing more time for people to come to repentance and receive eternal life.
The devotional helps us understand that God’s view of time is not like ours. We might measure centuries, but to Him, a thousand years is like a day. His promise is as sure today as the moment He first gave it. In fact, the delay is an expression of His loving desire that none should perish.
Yet there will come a day when the promise is fulfilled. A new heaven and a new earth, unmarred by sin and filled with righteousness, awaits. On that day, all sorrow will pass, every tear will be wiped away, and God will dwell with us. It will be the final and full unveiling of what we’ve longed for—an eternity of righteousness, joy, and union with our Lord.
Until then, we live in hopeful anticipation—not as doubters or scoffers, but as those who trust the One who always keeps His word. We await a world where death no longer casts its shadow, where sorrow can no longer find a foothold. This is not wishful thinking—it is anchored in promise.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am not slow in keeping My promises as some imagine. My seeming delay is your deliverance. My patience is extending the invitation so that more hearts might turn and live. I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rejoice when the lost return home.
Do not anchor your hope in the timelines of men. I do not operate according to human clocks. What seems like delay is mercy, and what feels like silence is Me giving space for repentance, for I am full of compassion.
I have promised to return, and My Word cannot be broken. I will come again and receive you to Myself. You will dwell with Me in a world remade by righteousness. No more death, no more pain, no more sorrow—only joy and unbroken fellowship. The new heaven and new earth are not dreams—they are your destiny. My dwelling will be with you, and you shall be Mine forever.
Hold fast. Let hope anchor your soul. As you live today, let your conduct reflect your confidence in what is coming. Trust Me to live through you in this in-between place, bearing the aroma of eternity in a world still waiting.
Scripture References:
2 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:13, John 14:3, 2 Peter 3:3–4, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 21:1–4, Ezekiel 18:23, Romans 15:13, Hebrews 10:23
Real-Life Analogy
Waiting for God’s promised return is like tracking a long-awaited package from a loved one overseas. You know it’s coming because it was lovingly prepared and sent. Though international tracking may stall and give no updates for days, you don’t throw the gift away in your mind. You wait, because you trust the sender.
So it is with God’s promises. Though we may not see updates with every passing day, we know the Sender. We trust His heart. Today, as you interact with others in a world that doubts and scoffs, humbly yield to His Spirit within you. Let Him express His peace, patience, and joy through you as a testimony that your eyes are fixed not on delays, but on promises. Maybe today, as someone voices despair about the state of the world, you can respond—not with argument, but with calm assurance: “There is a day coming that will make all things new. I trust the One who promised it.”
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that Your promises are not uncertain guesses, but guaranteed outcomes. Thank You that every word You’ve spoken finds its yes in Christ. I rest today in the certainty that You will return, that You are preparing a place for me, and that You are patient so that others may come to know You. As I wait, I wait with expectancy, knowing that eternity is not slipping away—it’s drawing near. I walk today as one who belongs to the world to come.