LIFE ON EARTH IS BRIEF AND TEMPORAL!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2021.

SUBJECT: LIFE ON EARTH IS BRIEF AND TEMPORAL! 

Memory verse: "For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow." (Job 8 vs 9.)

READ: Philippians 3 vs 20; First Peter 2 vs 11:

Philippians 3:20: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Peter 2:11: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

INTIMATION:

Life on earth is the brief period between birth and death. And because it has a beginning and an end, it is temporary, and not permanent. The Bible is full of metaphors that teach about the brief, temporal, and transient nature of life on earth. To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here very long, so don't get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as He sees it. David prayed, "Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39 vs 4.)

Repeatedly the Bible compares life on earth to temporarily living in a foreign country. This is not your permanent home or final destination. You're just passing through, just visiting earth. The Bible uses terms like alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveler to describe our brief stay on earth. David said, "I am a stranger in the earth..." (Psalm 119 vs 19.) As believers, we are "sojourners and pilgrims" on this earth, because our real home is with God. Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in heaven, not to our citizenship here, because the earth will be destroyed. 

There is far more to life than just the few years we live on this planet. Believers identity is in eternity, and our homeland is heaven. When you grasp this truth, you will stop worrying about "having it all" on earth. God is very blunt about the danger of living for the here and now and adopting the values, priorities, and lifestyles of the world around us. When we flirt with the temptations of this world, God calls it spiritual adultery: "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4 vs 4.)

We are in the world and constantly in association with the world, its standards, and circumstances. Though we are in the world, but we are not of this world (John 15 vs 19). We are ambassadors of Christ in this world (Second Corinthians 5 vs 20). As an ambassador you will not be able to isolate yourself from the world. To fulfill your mission, you would have to have contact with the world. But suppose you become so comfortable with this world that you fell in love with it, preferring it to your homeland in heaven, your loyalty and commitment would change. Your role as an ambassador will be compromised. Instead of representing your home country, you would start acting like the enemy. You'd be a traitor. Sadly, many Christians have failed to embrace this reality and have betrayed their King and His kingdom. 

God warns us not to get too attached to what's around us because it's temporary, "For the form of this world is passing away" (First Corinthians 7 vs 31). The cares of this world; financial security, self actualization, worldly happiness, marriage, and so on, are not the ultimate goal of life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved in burdensome life activities that might keep you from doing God's work.

Compared with other centuries, life has never been easier for much of our world today. The advancement in technology has made life much more easier and enjoyable. We are  constantly entertained, amused, and catered to. With all the fascinating attractions, mesmerizing media, and enjoyable experiences available today, it's easy to forget that the pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. Only as we remember that life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment will the appeal of these things lose their grip on our lives. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I am a stranger in this world, and needs your guide embedded in Your Word. May the Holy Spirit continually reveal my true path of life, that I may not wonder aimlessly through life and risk missing my real destination, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!