The US postage Forever Stamp was introduced in 2007. Its purpose was to serve as the required postage for any standard 1 oz letter, now or any time in the future. The year it was printed does not affect the value of the stamp. Whenever it was purchased, it can be used “forever.”
By changing the emphasis of the words slightly, we can get another meaning from the Forever Stamp—if we make it God’s Forever Stamp.
Solomon gave a good introduction to God’s forever work, even though he did not truly appreciate it. He said,
Ecclesiastes 3:11 11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
What is the “world” he has put in our hearts? It is the “olam” at the conclusion of the Genesis allegory, the tree of life at the entrance to the garden, where “Adam” could…
one may “eat and live forever.”
Genesis 3:22 22…put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.
That “for ever” is the “olam.” It is the fruit of the “tree of life,” life that will go on and on and on and on… for all eternity.
What did Solomon say about it?
Ecclesiastes 3:14 14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever [“olam”]: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Whatever God puts His “forever” stamp on, it will last, and last, and last!
This is only the beginning.
Think about all the parts of His universe that have His “forever” stamp on them. We see it all around us. First there is the earth itself, the ground we walk on. Ecclesiastes again:
Ecclesiastes 1:4 4One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.
“Olam” again! In fact, it is used 422 times in the Old Testament about God’s Forever stamp on His work, His “everlasting covenant,” His own existence, and the sure promises to His faithful children.
The same “olam” extends to Christ and His future kingship of the earth. The Psalmist says of Him,
Psalm 72:17 17His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.
This means the sun itself has God’s forever stamp.
Moses says God’s love and care bears this same forever stamp:
Deuteronomy 33:27 27The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms.”
“Everlasting arms” – “olam” again.
The Psalmist highlights the same “forever” stamp on the righteous:
Psalm 55:22 22Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
He will “never” – “olam” again—He will never permit the righteous to be moved (totter, be shaken, be bent, fall—GES).
Psalm 90 is the ultimate in God’s forever stamp, stretching our little minds beyond capacity. Extoling God’s greatness, he says God’s “forever”—the “olam” again—is not only about forever forward but also forever past! He is God “from everlasting to everlasting.”
Psalm 90:1–2 1Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Can’t you feel God’s forever getting bigger… and bigger? And this same “everlasting” phrase is used regarding His mercy toward His faithful children. This is what tells us how vast and ever-expanding is His plan. This is the “WHY” to the existence of the countless galaxies the Hubble telescope is seeing.
Psalm 103:17–18 17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
Think—if you can—of the scope of His goodness! Nothing less than “olam” can encompass it. No wonder Isaiah exclaimed, when pondering God’s greatness:
Isaiah 57:15 15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
It is all through Scripture. Abraham addressed his prayer to the same high God:
Genesis 21:33 33Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
The “everlasting God.” Olam again!
Paul did the same.
1 Timothy 1:17 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
How could He describe God’s workings?
Romans 11:33 33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Unsearchable… past finding out.
And God’s promises? They carry “eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10 10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
What a strong motivation for enduring—and Paul’s endurance was tested. But he did not complain because the end would be “the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Hebrews tells us more about this eternal dimension:
Hebrews 5:9 9[Christ] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
This opens the door for us to share that eternal—forever—deliverance.
Hebrews 9:12 12Not with the blood of goats and calves [as was done under the old law] , but with His own blood [His own totally consecrated life] He entered the Most Holy Place once for all [once “for all time,” not all people], having obtained eternal redemption [for Himself].
That redemption will be the change from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption.
Hebrews 9:15 15…that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Again it is the eternal inheritance, the inheritance that has God’s forever stamp on it. If we qualify as Christ’s loyal and true ones, He has pledged to give us that personal “forever stamp.”
Romans 2:7 7eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.
This means eternal strength, eternal health, eternal happiness, eternal life—eternal everything we might desire or imagine.
And more.
It is all part of God’s forever—“olam”—stamp.
Just ponder it. God holds all this for His “forever” family members. Do we wonder that Paul longed to comprehend more of God’s goodness?
Ephesians 3:18–19 18[that you] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
How is it possible? Because God is able—abundantly able. The next verse explains:
Ephesians 3:20–21 20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
Yes, He will put His “forever” stamp on every worthy one. It is Jesus’ promise:
Luke 20:35–36 35…those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither … can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
What is too much to give up—if we keep our eye on God’s forever stamp! The value will never go down, it will only increase, more and more, through the cycles of the grand “olam” to come.