Why do Christians want to live forever?

Question

Do people not find the concept of eternal life somehow cheapens your current existence? The probability of you ever being conceived in this universe is extremely low yet here you are and you're concerned with the next life.

What is the point of living forever, even in the grace of a God? Why is it not enough to appreciate the now, make contributions to humanity and then move on into oblivion? After all, the latter concept seems much more special, unique and interesting to me. It also provides much more context on life.

So please, I'm not being judgmental, but why do you want to live forever? Do you not find it cheapens you? Is this a reaction out of fear? I'm very curious.

Answer 1

Fear mostly.

Answer 2

I don't think it cheapens anything. Nor is it a reaction out of fear. Look at it like this. Think of the most majestic thing in the here and now...a gorgeous sunset; waves crashing on the beach; a quiet forest glen. These are only muted reflections of what heaven will have for us. Not only that, but we will be in the full glory of our Creator and Lord at that time, which will make things that much more special. There is nothing that keeps you from looking forward to eternal life, while, at the same time, ignoring humanity, and appreciating the now. Just appreciate it in the proper context.

Answer 3

Christians fear death. That is the whole foundation. Look at the Terry Schiavo case. Terry was dead in every meaningful definition of the word, but her parents, supposedly Christians, were so afraid of death that they refused to let her animated corpse be unplugged. They are afraid that heaven is not real or that they are not really going to be allowed in.

They fear death so much in this life, that there has to be immortality in the next life, but when I look at this life, I cannot imagine why anyone wants to live longer - I am going to have to work until the day I day just to pay for living, so why stretch it out.

And what does the Afterlife promise, and eternity of bliss. I don't get it. What purpose does immortality serve? Is living forever in pure bliss or pure torture better than this? It seems pointless.

The bliss oblivion seems a better choice.

Answer 4

Heaven. You are not quite the same person you are now, I believe, as when you go to heaven. You would not feel fear anymore.

But why does this concept bother you? There are many Christians [not the Reagan kind] who believe in helping people and having great compassion for all people.

You should also know that many people on their deathbeds want the feeling that they will live on [yes, there was scientific research on this]. I'm not saying that most want to be Christians; usually people want to feel acknowledged and know that they will still be thought of when they die.

And some think like you, but don't have the positive outlook you do. For example, "...and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." -- Thomas Hobbes
Well, most everyone may agree with this quote, but can get depressed, whenever faced with the reality of death.
Also, I think Hobbes thought it was human nature to be selfish and self-centered.

I think the flaw [if you'll allow me to use that word] in your thinking is that Christians don't appreciate the here and now.
I would say most do, but I don't know the Christians with whom you have spoken about this topic.

An aside:
Also, some atheists think about life in terms of physics -- energy can neither be created or destroyed, so in a sense, although it is not "you" per say, a part of you live on as energy, if you get what I mean.

Note to Junto America:

Not all Christians agreed with what happened to Terry Schiavo. You are oversimplifying. The one thing you can say is that people on both sides of that issue used Terry Schiavo as a political tool to prove a "point."

Answer 5

NO it does not "cheapen" anything for those of us who know that we will spend our eternity in Heaven with GOD. Everyones spirit will live on forever...even yours. The only question is ....Where? That's up to you.
We do not "move on into oblivion"..that is the hope of the un-godly because they don't want to face the FACT that physical death is NOT complete death.
You won't hear this because you just want to make some kind of "point" about life in the flesh because that is the only existence you are willing to accept. Don't condemn your immortal soul.

Answer 6

First of all, it beats the alternative.

It looks like you are saying, why were we not created to live eternally in the first place?

There is a plan being worked out, and it requires people now to experience life in the temporal state.

If this is all there is, then even a positive contribution to mankind in the long run is merely vanity.

All temporal life will vanish. Even this earth and this sun will perish.

It would be as though no one even ever existed... a flash in the pan.

.

Answer 7

Jesus said you cant get to heaven with out going through him so I would rather live forever in heaven then I would want to live in hell forever, as far as dieing, wouldn't you want to be with GOD your Creator and the people you love then to just die and be gone forever. I know it sounds better to me yes this life is great but the next one will have no fears no worries no tears and you can live that way forever. why wouldn't you or anyone for that matter.

Answer 8

For someone who is not judgmental, your question clearly is.
Why do you care? And how will this affect you? Why do you need to try pathetic things like this in order to attempt to cheapen others beliefs?
Are you that small a man? Is your own life so meaningless? Look inside before attacking others little boy.

Answer 9

that's somewhat God's promise and that i look ahead to residing on an earth while dying, sin, sorrow, soreness and mourning would be not extra. (Revelation 21:4) What makes this promise much extra surprising is that everybody those asleep in dying, interior the memorial tombs, would be resurrected and have the possibility to exploit this comparable probability. (Acts 24:15) i will even see my son back and which will make me the happiest individual in the worldwide. What makes this so reasonable, too, is this replaced into God's plan from the commencing up while He created the 1st human beings and placed them interior the backyard of Eden. He won't enable the insurrection of devil and the disobedience of Adam or perhaps and all their offspring to the thwarted. What He intends to do will constantly take place. At Isaiah fifty 5:11 God says; "so my word that is going forth from my mouth will coach to be. it won't return to me devoid of outcomes, notwithstanding it is going to truly do this wherein I unquestionably have delighted, and it could have specific fulfillment in that for which I unquestionably have sent it." For human beings to stay perpetually in suitable in the worldwide replaced into and nevertheless is God's plan for us.

Answer 10

The idea that this is just the start of a wonderful eternal adventure is facinating!That our life here on earth is just a cup full of water from the ocean and that the rest of the ocean is where we are headed ! That's freakin' great!The universe is a huge place .It will take eternity to cover it all.

Answer 11

I've never met a Christian that wanted to live forever. Why? This life is nothing compared to living with God in heaven. You are to be preparing yourself for the next life, that is a given. that does not take away from the present, it enhances it.