Forever is right now
“Immortality is here and now, and is not a speculative something beyond the grave. It is a lucid state of consciousness in which the sensations of the body, the varying and unrestful states of mind, and the circumstances and events of life are seen to be of a fleeting and therefore of an illusory character.”
— James Allen
Reflection
James Allen insists that immortality is not a distant prize reserved for some other realm; it begins here and now in the quality of our thoughts and life. When you live only for the passing moment—driven by impulse, appetite, or convenience—you shrink your existence to the size of your latest feeling. But when you think and act from eternal realities, your days are enlarged with meaning.
To live with immortality in view is to remember that every thought, word, and deed participates in something far bigger than this week’s circumstances. Love, faithfulness, sacrifice, and truth all outlast the situations that triggered them. They echo beyond the immediate. In that sense, you are either practicing for eternity or avoiding it.
This perspective does not pull you away from life; it roots you more deeply in it. You become less concerned with winning arguments and more concerned with embodying Christlike character. You value people over possessions, integrity over image, and obedience over comfort. The smallest acts—a kind word, an honest choice, a hidden prayer—take on eternal weight.
Allen’s point is simple but searching: you are already living your view of immortality right now. Your thoughts either align with the enduring or cling to the temporary. When you choose the higher, everyday moments become rehearsal for a life that never ends.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Ask yourself before a decision, “Will this matter only for a moment, or will it matter in eternity?”
- Do one hidden act of kindness today that no one but God will see.
- Spend a few minutes reflecting on a Scripture about eternity and let it reshape how you view today’s tasks.
One Question To Ponder
If your daily choices were shaped by the reality of immortality right now, what would change first?
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