What Grandparents Can Teach Grandkids About Eternity

In a recent episode of Grandparenthood, Ben McEachen and Ian Barnett, founder of the National Grandparent Movement, explored how grandparents can help their grandchildren understand eternity and the hope found in Christ.

For Ian, the topic matters because what people believe about the future shapes how they live today.

“If we have a right view of the end, that will actually help us live our life well today,” Ian said.

He explained that Christian hope differs significantly from the way hope is often understood in wider culture.

“The world’s view of hope is it’s wishful thinking,” Ian said.

“Whereas when we stop and process what the Bible has to say about hope, it’s a certainty.”

Christian hope is not wishful thinking – it is confidence built on God’s promises.

Why eternity matters

Ian pointed to Ecclesiastes 3, where scripture says God has “set eternity in the human heart”.

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He believes people naturally wrestle with questions about what comes next, particularly as they grow older or experience loss.

“People are wondering what happens to me,” Ian said.

As grandchildren grow, those questions often become more personal. Children begin to notice ageing, illness and death, leading them to ask difficult questions about life and eternity.

For grandparents, these moments can become opportunities to share the hope they have found in Jesus.

Start the conversation early

Ian encouraged grandparents not to wait until a crisis occurs before building relationships with their grandchildren.

Developing trust early creates space for deeper conversations later.

“If you’re in their life earlier, that will allow you to have a conversation,” Ian said.

Whether it is through the loss of a family pet, a funeral, or simply a child noticing their grandparents growing older, everyday moments can prompt meaningful discussions about faith and the future.

Children are often more aware of life, death and the future than adults realise.

Ian also stressed the importance of approaching these conversations with prayer, humility and sensitivity rather than forcing beliefs onto grandchildren.

Sharing the assurance of faith

One of the strongest themes in the discussion was assurance.

Ian said grandparents need confidence in their own faith before they can effectively share that confidence with others.

“You need to have that assurance if you’re going to speak about the assurance to others,” he said.

Drawing on passages such as Hebrews 11 and John 14, Ian explained that Christian confidence is based on the promises of God and the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection.

That assurance can become a powerful testimony, particularly when grandchildren see how their grandparents approach ageing, suffering and uncertainty.

The certainty of eternity can become one of the most powerful legacies a grandparent leaves behind.

A role for parents, churches and grandparents

While Ian believes grandparents have a significant role to play, he emphasised that they are not carrying the responsibility alone.

Parents remain the primary influence in a child’s life, while churches can help nurture a broader understanding of faith and eternity.

“Churches should talk about eternity because that impacts how you live today,” Ian said.

For grandparents, however, there is a unique opportunity to model hope over a lifetime and show younger generations what it looks like to trust God through every stage of life.

Ultimately, Ian’s encouragement was simple: pray for opportunities, stay engaged in your grandchildren’s lives and be ready to share the hope you have.

“The Christian hope is not conditional,” Ian said.

“It’s an unconditional love and hope that we have in Christ.”

Listen to the full conversation in the player above. All episodes of Grandparenthood are available on the podcast page.

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