01/29/2019
Unless we die of some tragic accident or illness, each of us will find ourselves at a point where the strength of our body will have reached its summit, and the slow decline towards death will have begun. We jokingly call this being “over the hill” but isn’t it wonderful to know that while the aging of our bodies looks like a bell curve, our spiritual life is an ever rising inclined plain. Our transitory physical nature is giving way to achieving eternal life through Jesus Christ.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
The bible tells us that there is an expiration date assigned to our bodies, and observing our life and the lives of those around us tells us that this is true. Certainly the number of years man has lived has changed through biblical time, but unless we are called to heaven it is absolutely limited. Here are a couple of scriptural references to that limitation...
“Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years."”
Genesis 6:3 ESV
And then in Psalm 90 it changes again...
“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
Psalms 90:10 ESV
Our lifespan is set by God, and He can change it! Just like we can change certain parameters on our cell phones, aging is one of those variables that God seems to change over time. It has been adjusted from many hundreds of years to where we are today, but the point isn’t to determine the actual number of years we will live, but to realize that there is indeed a limit to them.
So if we can agree that there is a limit, and I think we can do that without much argument, then why is it that we spend so much of our precious time and effort trying to gather earthly possessions only to die and leave them behind?
“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
James 4:14 ESV
We should be using our hours, days, and years to seek what is eternal, and yet we say things like “live hard, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse”, or “live like there is no tomorrow”, or “live for today for tomorrow may never come” or lastly, “live like you were dying.” Well, from the moment we are born we do begin to die, so the pursuit of earthly things alone is a fatalistic view that is not only embraced by our humanity, but glorified by modern culture; it neglects the fact that we are both physical and spiritual beings; it relinquishes any hope of eternity... it negates the reality of faith, and God.
“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"”
John 11:25-26 ESV
These are the words Jesus spoke to Martha just before He raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. I include them here because the question He asked her is one that we need to ask ourselves today... “Do you believe this?” If we don’t believe there is eternal life, if we don’t believe that God created all things, if we don’t believe that Christ redeemed us; if we don’t believe that Jesus is our sole means of reaching God, and everlasting life... then sit down and compile an elaborate bucket list and live your life for today because this is all you have, and even love itself is fleeting and meaningless.
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."”
Matthew 25:46 ESV
Life is a gift to be enjoyed, but it is also short. Life is equivalent to an hour glass that we turn over. Once the grains of sand begin to fall we have a certain amount of time before they cease. Whatever we are measuring by them, we had better complete it before the last grain falls, and time is up! So how are we spending our time? Are we preparing ourselves for resurrection and eternity, or resolved to die with the last grain of sand?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24 ESV
So our body has a time limit set upon it, and try as we might to overcome this... it is inevitable. At birth our hourglass begins to drop its sand and we are faced with a choice as to whether we will use that time to seek eternity through Jesus Christ, or spend it on fleeting pleasure and the pursuit of earthly treasure. In our youth we see ourselves gaining in strength, and this can deceive us into believing that our physical life is all we need, but once we reach the pinnacle, and go over the hump, we begin the downward decent towards death, and the mirror reminds us each day that earthly pursuits are futile. Suddenly sin takes on a more intense meaning, and no longer represents simple morality, but a wall that bars us from reaching Jesus, God, and eternity.
So how long will you wait before you realize that you have no way of knowing how much sand is left in your glass, and are you satisfied with today, and with your life being nothing more than dust and a few trinkets? Are you calling yourself faithful, and a Godly person, but spending all of your time on earthly pursuits, and power? Look in the mirror, and see the truth in what is reflected back. What do you see?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for my life, and for your Son Jesus Christ who makes it possible for me to partake in your grace, and forgiveness. Thank you Merciful Father for eternal life that is my reward for righteousness, and faith. Help me Holy Father to walk closer with you each and every day, and to understand the importance of seeking your kingdom above all those that exist in this earth. Open my eyes Lord so that I can see the truth that death awaits all living things that inhabit this world, but that in you is life everlasting. Encourage me Father as I seek you, and feed my longing to be with you forevermore. Let your Son Jesus be my guide and facilitator, making straight my path Father, and opening my mind to your Holy Spirit who gives me new understanding each day. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God and the source of my treasure that is never lost, and never grows old. Praised be your name as you call me to your side and your eternal home. Gather all saints to you Father so that your glory is increased without ceasing, and shines forth forevermore.
Rich Forbes