A View of Eternity

Greetings,

Père Jean Nicolas Grou (1731-1803) wrote an incisive book, The Hidden Life of the Soul.  The following passage is as pertinent today as it was some 200 years ago.

We tremble at the thought of eternity, and well we may; but if the fear was turned to good account, we should soon learn to rejoice in trembling.  To those who yield unrestrainedly to their passions, the thought of eternity must needs be terrible.  Yet they too might well pause and think whether they do well to sacrifice an eternal future to the moment of time now passing.  Those too who cling tightly to the hopes and joys of this life may tremble to feel that what they cherish most is gliding from beneath their grasp, and eternity alone remains.  But then arises the question, If all this is so soon to pass away, why should I cleave so closely to it?  Why not seek that which endureth for ever rather than that which is but as foam upon the sea, as lightning in the midnight sky?  Again, some timid souls shrink from the thought of the possible condemnation, and loss of that blessed eternity promised to the faithful.  But let such remember that God loves them better than they love themselves; that He desires their salvation more earnestly than they desire it, that He has given them unfailing means of salvation, if they will but use such means.  What more need they save faith and trust?  Their overweening fearfulness comes of self—from measuring God by their own poor standard, rather than themselves by His boundless greatness.  They have not looked chiefly at His Glory, His Will, His Love, but at themselves.  Let them look higher, and fear will yield to love; peace will come to their souls, and Eternity will cease to dismay them.

It must do more;—it must become a source of abiding rest and joy.  Hear St. Paul telling us that ‘our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!’  Will not this thought carry you over many waves of this troublesome life, through many heartaches and wearinesses, and sorrows?

Yours & His,

DED