“Mommy, no one has forever.”
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Yesterday, as we gathered at Little Ocmulgee State Park for the Stroup family reunion, we also took time to do something sacred — to have church as a family. Before we began our little service, I called my son Liam over to me.
He’s been growing so fast lately, and I just needed a few moments — mother to son — to hold him close.
We sat together, hugging and talking quietly. I looked at him and said something that had been tugging at my heart for weeks:
“You’ve gotten so big. I was hoping I would have more time with you as a cute little boy.”
Without even thinking, Liam looked up at me and said:
“Mommy, no one has forever.”
I froze.
Because in that childlike honesty, I heard heaven speak.
There are moments when Liam shares wisdom far beyond his years. He doesn’t always know it, but sometimes the Holy Spirit slips something deep into his little heart and lets it overflow in a simple sentence.
This time, it was a sentence that echoed eternity.
What Liam said holds profound spiritual truth:
🕊️ This earth will pass away.
🏚️ Everything here — homes, routines, wealth, comfort — will crumble.
💔 Even the people we love most will one day leave this life.
But the Kingdom of God lasts forever.
And even more urgently, Liam’s words reminded me:
Our time to choose His way is very short.
Are You Ready?
Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about ten virgins waiting for their bridegroom. Five of them were wise — they brought extra oil for their lamps. Five were foolish — unprepared and distracted. When the bridegroom came at midnight, only the prepared ones entered the wedding feast. The rest were locked out.
“Therefore keep watch,” Jesus said, “because you do not know the day or the hour.”
— Matthew 25:13
That’s the weight behind Liam’s words:
“No one has forever.”
The time of judgment will come — maybe sooner than we expect.
Whether we meet Jesus after death or rise to meet Him in the air, the question remains:
Are you ready to meet your Bridegroom?
The Wedding Feast
Jesus also told the story of a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son (Matthew 22:1–14). The invited guests ignored the call — too busy, too distracted, too unconcerned. So the king sent messengers out to the streets and invited anyone who would come — both good and bad.
But one man came without the proper wedding clothes — a symbol of being in the room but not clothed in righteousness.
“Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
— Matthew 22:14
There’s a holy invitation in Liam’s voice.
A whisper from the Holy Spirit.
A wake-up call.
We are not promised tomorrow — but we are promised eternity if we choose Jesus today.
So I ask you — not as a writer, not even as a mother, but as someone who has tasted the sweetness of His presence:
💬 Have you trimmed your lamp?
⏳ Is your oil full?
💒 Are you truly ready?
Because Liam was right.
No one has forever.
But those who belong to Jesus…
Will live forever with Him.
🕊️ A Final Invitation: Come Back Home
Do you feel like you’ve strayed too far from God — like He couldn’t possibly forgive you, love you, or even want to know you?
Come on back home, now.
You’re out of time.
And truthfully, you’re out of excuses too.
Jesus isn’t afraid of your mess.
He isn’t shocked by your failure.
Greater love flows from greater forgiveness.
The more sin there is to forgive you from, the greater the evidence of His love — poured out through the blood of the Lamb and your testimony.
So go ahead:
🗣️ Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
💧 Proceed with baptism.
👑 Give the King of Kings the chance to make all things new in your life — especially your heart, your mind, and your spirit.
Because no one has forever.
But in Christ, you have eternity.
🙏 Prayer of Salvation
If you’re ready to come home — to turn from your old life and walk into the new — pray this from your heart:
Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again so I could live.
I confess that I’ve gone my own way. I’ve sinned, and I need Your forgiveness.
Today, I turn from my old life and surrender to You.
I confess with my mouth that You are Lord.
Wash me clean. Fill me with Your Spirit.
Make me new — in heart, in mind, and in spirit.
I want to live for You. Amen.
💧 Ready for Baptism or Need Someone to Pray With You?
Don’t wait. Reach out to your local church or a believer you trust.
And if you don’t know who to ask — I’d be honored to help connect you.
You’ve come this far — don’t stop now.
Scripture Study: Urgency, Repentance & the Call to Return
Take a moment to dig deeper into the Word. These scriptures will help you reflect on the urgency of the hour — and the immeasurable grace of Jesus.
🔥 1. James 4:14 – Life is a Vapor
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
📝 Reflect: How does this verse reinforce Liam’s words: “No one has forever”?
⌛ 2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 – Now is the Time of Salvation
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
📝 Reflect: What keeps people from responding to Jesus immediately? What might be holding you back?
🕯️ 3. Matthew 25:1–13 – The Ten Virgins
“The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.”
📝 Reflect: Are you keeping your lamp filled with oil? What does “being ready” look like in your life?
💧 4. Acts 2:38 – Repent and Be Baptized
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
📝 Reflect: Have you taken this step? If you have, how are you nurturing the gift of the Holy Spirit daily?
🩸 5. Revelation 12:11 – The Power of Testimony
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
📝 Reflect: What part of your story could God use to draw others back to Him?
✍️ Journal Prompt:
- What is God saying to you through these verses?
- Where do you need to return, repent, or recommit?
- Who do you know that needs to hear this message — and how can you share it?
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The Aging English Major 