Forever: Why You Can’t Live Without It

Paul Tripp again delivers a book that is not only readable but it is highly relevant to our culture today. We are a culture that is motivated to cram as much into our day as possible and if necessary go to work. We work so that we have the money to do the things that we really want to do.But as our culture gets more involved we are finding that the soccer moms are more stressed out than ever. They spend their day, cleaning, doing laundry, taking the kids to school, soccer practice, ballet lessons, piano lessons, after school events, church events and then family events. By the end of the day or the end of the week everyone falls into bed totally exhausted to grab a few hours sleep before starting the routine again.Why do we do that?In "Forever" Tripp is trying to help us sort out why we do what we do and what is the meaning of life for each of us. He believes that Christians have especially lost sight of `Forever.' We are supposed to live our lives with the hope of Eternity in our hearts. If that is true why don't we slow down enough to look at our lives and ask this question, "What impact does this event have on eternity?"Now granted some events have little or no impact on eternity yet God is happy we do them because they bring joy to our present life. But often times we strive to gain more money to buy more things to impress more people when with eternity in mind they have no impact on our Eternal Life.Many people today are seeing counselors because they can't say no. Or they don't see any value in their lives.Dr. Tripp wants us to stop and ask this question, "What did God have in mind for us when he planted the hope of Eternity in our hearts?" Wasn't it to give us some perspective of what value we ought to place on present day activities?My favorite chapters in his book were;Chapter 2, "The Pack-it-all-in Mentality"Chapter 7, "Hope Can't Live Without Forever"Chapter 8, "Suffering is Harder When You Have No Forever"Chapter 9, "Forever and Your Relationships"For me the most impacting was Chapter 8, "Suffering is Harder When You Have No Forever." I think Dr. Tripp does a great job of helping us to understand why bad things happen to good people and then to further understand why some people handle suffering better than others. With the hope of "Forever" in your heart you can see that present day suffering pales in comparison to our Eternal Future with the Lord. It helps us to have a different outlook on life.This book is going to be one of the best tools you can put in your library to help you in processing today's hectic lifestyle with our hope for the future.

I really enjoy reading Paul David Tripp's books. He challenges me to think on a deeper level. I am a mental health counselor and as I read his books, It feels like he understands the struggles of mankind. It is obvious he has been with people in their darkest times and he knows where true hope can be found. He helps give hope to the reader that while life can be difficult, our only hope is in Jesus. Focusing on eternity, helps the reader to refocus on what is truly important. In a world where "self" is promoted and seeing the eternal perspective is not promoted, Dr. Tripp points us back to what truly matters.

I have purchased 4 copies of this book and have a copy on my Kindle. I meant for my friends to pass this book around, however, everyone is keeping the book for themselves. It is a book meant to be read over and over again so that the sweet truth of "forever" sinks in and fills you up. In writing this book, Paul Tripp has come up with a jewel of a read. Eternity amnesia, as Dr. Tripp calls it, strips people of hope. When we look at the situations in which we find ourselves, many times we are inclined to lose hope, sometimes lots of it. But when you look again at the situation with fresh eyes, in light of "forever", we realize that what we are going through is a "light, momentary, affliction". Ahhh, what a breath of freshness and sweetness that we find when "forever" is ever before us. Don't just buy one copy. Spread this book around. Don't worry, you won't get it back, but you will have bestowed a marvelous gift full of refreshment and hope to whomever you choose to give it. And keep a copy for yourself. You will want to read it again and again. It will change how you look at life.

"Forever" by Paul David Tripp explores a largely-ignored but valuable and practical theme. Tripp contends that in order to live the right kind of life in the here and now, we need constantly to look ahead to eternity. He observes how many are separated from eternity in their minds. Some are distracted. Others are busy trying to pack everything into their short earthly lives, fearful of missing some experience. In so doing, they miss out on greater things: joy, relationships, contentment. He reminds us that physical death is waiting and, after that, judgment. Ignoring these realities is no way to prepare for them.Furthermore, gaining and keeping an eternal perspective is part of God's sanctifying work. My relationships are enriched when I am reminded that God is in control of history. I need not control others. If I know that God will see me through to the end, I'm reminded that I must be in his hands presently. Realizing my needs will be ultimately and abundantly met by Him frees me from frantic self-preservation and opens the way to giving up my time and myself. It allows me to love others. As well, keeping a long view makes still-painful suffering bearable. I can enjoy peace of mind when I detach my hopes from the temporary things that offer no assurance and place them in my Creator and Redeemer who cannot fail. Because we were made for eternity, eternity is inside us. The present world, while good and valuable, points us to the next. The imperfect directs us with grateful attention to the perfect. These are all important biblical insights from which I benefited.It is obvious Tripp has thought long, often, and deeply about his subject. His short stories of people and their situations made it evident that he understands humanity. I envy him for this. Though there's much wisdom in this book, it will take faith to accept it and even greater faith to apply it. Can you make giant adjustments to your beliefs, values, desires, and behavior according to something you've not yet seen or put your hands on?I would have given the book 5 stars if I hadn't found it to be tediously redundant from beginning to end. What is written in 200 pages could be easily condensed to 150. I'm not implying Tripp is a bad writer, just wordy. I think he needs a more aggressive editor. That alone shouldn't stop you from reading this compelling book.

If you have ever asked yourself questions like: Why is it so hard to find satisfaction? Why is it so hard to find a good relationship? Why do I keep getting myself more and more into deeper debt? Why does it seem like life keeps getting more difficult? Why am I suffering so much? And many other questions like these - than this is a fantastic book for you.Paul Tripp writes with theological acumen, numerous biblical examples, brilliant illustrations, and practical insights in showing how we were made for eternity and that we need to factor in our lives the fall and the future in order to live in the now. Our current life is simply preparation for our ultimate destination. He shows how we typically view current realities without an eternal perspective and how devastating these consequences are and then shows on the flip side how we were designed to live with Christ at the center of all of life and how living with a forever mindset has gracious overtones leading to great peace and joy.Tripp delineates specifically how having an eternal mindset makes a substantial difference in our lives in our relationship to God, those closest to us, at work, in our priorities, etc.I highly recommend this book as "must" reading and an excellent choice to give as a gift to those who are disillusioned, deceived, discouraged, and without hope in this life. The gospel is clearly articulated here over and over in masterful brilliance shows how Christ is our only satisfaction in the now and how all our dreams will be satisfied in eternity through a personal relationship with Him.

Great book. Helped me so much to get the right perspective on life. [And death.]

A touch repetitive at times but a worthwhile read on how to view and deal with the difficulties of this life in the light of eternity