What Does Everlasting Mean

Everlasting: (Adjective) 1. Lasting or enduring through all time: Eternity (Noun) 1. Eternity – Merriam-Webster Online

There seems to be no question about that everlasting means forever.

This morning as I read and study the word “everlasting” I am brought to the passage in Genesis where God establishes His covenant with Abraham (whose name changed in the passage). The covenant is centered around circumcision of the men of the household of Abraham. Now, I am am not looking at circumcision this morning, but the covenant itself.

“⁷And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” — Genesis 17:7 (ESV)

God establishes His covenant with Abraham and in the passage indicates everlasting three times. This tells me that it is quite the thing and should be remembered as significant. The everlasting covenant is forever. It is for eternity. It is for always. It is.

In this instance, the established covenant extends beyond just Abraham and his immediate family. It extends into any who are associated with his household. All who are under the authority of Abraham have the benefit of the established covenant with God.

“¹²He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, ¹³both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” — Genesis 17:12-13 (ESV)

I see here that the covenants of God are everlasting and not just for those originally signed up. The covenants are extended to any and all who are given then opportunity to be added to the book of Christ at any time. Abraham was the father of all nations and therefore all nations are under his authority and by extension, all have been granted the established covenant with Christ.

Now the time of the Old Testament has passed, and God’s New Covenant has overwritten the Old Covenants, but the old is still everlasting. The old covenant still holds true forever. I am under the house of Abraham and benefit from the established love and care of God the Father for eternity.

What does everlasting mean to you? Are you able to take things into the forever, or are they just established for the now? What if we believed that things are forever and took the chance to be a part of them for eternity?