Eternity in Their Hearts

There is a famous text in the book of Ecclesiastes that captures an important thought about worship. It reads, in part, "He has set eternity in their hearts."

This teaches some basic truths. First, that people are made for worship like they are made for breathing or seeing. It is part of our created reality TO WORSHIP.

Second, since "eternity" as a concept, desire, or longing is imbedded in the minds and souls of people, it doesn't matter if a person admits or confesses a faith in Eternal Life, and "life after death," and the significance of worshipping the God of Eternity. Their subjective belief in this principle doesn't change its reality.

Beginning with this assumption, then, we can have all kinds of conversations with people from all different places on the faith---non-faith spectrum and expect to discover that God is at work in their lives.

It is along these lines that I liked reading the following article about some principles of non-believing people who visit a church worship service ("visitors") and their experience in worship.

Here's one strong point from Gerrit's essay:

Christian worship should be living pictures of the society of those who have exchanged self-centered living for God-centered living.  The act of corporate worship beautifully demonstrates this new life style where God is the center.  The visitor needs such  pictures.

But too many believers come to worship--the event on Sunday, shall we say--with the "act of corporate worship" being the only time in their week when God is at the center. As such, the picture of the New Society of Faith must come off pretty thin.

Which begs the question: if Eternity is set in the heart of a non-Christian, what's in the heart of a believer?