Time is a created thing. A line with a beginning and an end, contained within the expanse of eternity.
The temporary came from the Eternal. The visible from the invisible. James said that our lives are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
“Soon” is all about perspective and comparison.
Anything yet to happen on this line of time is ‘soon’ – alongside eternity.
I very much like living from this perspective. It helps me remember what’s important. It helps me be content instead of grasping and it helps me understand what 1 Corinthians 13 is about…I learned this passage as a child from the Living Bible which puts it this way…
“If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noise.
If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do?
Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love.
If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable or touchy.
It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.
It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.
If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.
You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
ALL THE SPECIAL GIFTS AND POWERS FROM GOD WILL SOMEDAY COME TO AN END, *
**BUT ***LOVE*** GOES*** ON ***FOREVER***”