58. Q. How does the article concerning "life everlasting" comfort you? A. Even as I already now experience in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, so after this life I will have perfect blessedness such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human heart has ever imagined: a blessedness in which to praise God eternally.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
How fitting that I come to this portion of the catechism when death has been a very real presence in my circle of friends these recent days. Yesterday I traveled to the memorial service for the one who is now cancer-free and in the presence of her Saviour. Only the saints of God can know the deep wellspring of joy that enables the victorious singing of "In Christ Alone," one of the hymns requested by the departed friend. "No guilt in life, no fear in death..." - the words gave me goosebumps as I sang out through the tears. There were many unbelievers present at the service -perhaps a majority. What a strong proclamation of gospel hope was displayed to them!
A beautiful portion from DeYoung's comments:
Eternal life in God's presence will be such a weight of glory that we will feel as if we never knew happiness before and all our troubles will be in a moment forgotten as so puny and so trivial and to be utterly inconsequential compared to all this joy.
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