For Evermore



Psa 115:17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. 

Psa 115:18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise 

	the LORD.



          To observe the passing of a life is to see a period of time come to an end in 

which there has been a continual and unceasing flow of action. There can be no life 

where there is no movement, and, in fact, the point at which activity is no longer 

observed is when death is defined. Though there may be no outward evidence of 

action, as in the case of one who is in a coma, there is activity taking place inside the 

body that keeps that person among the living. As it is not possible to live without 

activity in our bodies, so it is not possible for there to be action without living. It may 

be assisted through the use of machines, but there is always life as long as there is 

activity in a body. 

          This passage in Psalms, I believe, makes an interesting correlation between 

living and the activity of worship and praise. It says that the dead don't praise, but we 

do. It's as if the defining activity of living in Him is honoring the Lord by blessing and 

praising Him. To live in Him, then, would require an unceasing flow of this activity 

in us. It must be something like the action of the heart or the brain. While there may 

be other activities to observe as movement takes place in any other part of the body, 

they all require the functioning of heart and brain in order to actually remain alive. 

The body can't go for a walk without the heart providing the flow of blood for its 

movements, and no athletic game can be played without the amazing calculation and 

communication activity of the brain. So, then, a life in Christ is similar in that no 

other spiritual activity can take place apart from the continual action of praise and 

worship. There can be no experience of the gifts of the spirit, there can be no other 

evidence of the glory of God by any other action apart from the unending activity of 

honoring Him. 

	By defining life in terms of action as we have done here, there is naturally 

implied the possibility of this action coming to an end and for there to be death. All 

natural life as we know it comes with a defined beginning and ending. On the 

gravestone is written the date of birth and the date of death. There is hope given to us 

in the last verse of this chapter, though, in that the time limitation for this activity is 

removed. The words "for evermore" definitely indicate that the action of life in Him 

doesn't have to end. From now till infinity there will be the heart and brain activity of 

Life in Him. (praise and worship) This life is ours to be lived without interruption 

and without end. The only time it is compromised is when our life is in a condition 

where there is no honoring of Him. The point at which there is a direct conflict of our 

outward actions and the inward actions of the spirit, there is an inability to function 

in the full potential of Life. Allowing the awareness of His presence and the praise of 

His greatness to be a part of every other action in our life, though, takes the limits 

off. There is entrance into the realm of spiritual immortality in which every breath 

and every tiny movement is praise and worship driven. 

          The dead may not praise Him, but we are forever among the living as long as 

our heart of praise and worship is beating effectively, not just in the church 

environment, but wherever we go. Live!-Praise the Lord. 


Psa 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

            (and in my hands, and my feet and my every part that moves)




4/18/04