Ps. 39.4
There are all sorts of metaphors in the Bible which describe life on earth as temporary; my favorite being, "life is as a mist". We need to start looking at life as a brief encounter, a stepping stone to the real prize, which is an eternity with our Lord. David prayed, "Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here but for a moment." (Ps 39:4)
Christians should think of themselves as citizens of heaven, no matter where on earth they live. (Phil 3:19-20) There is far more to life than what we experience here on earth. We need to think of heaven as being our home. We need to stop coveting the things of this world, and begin to see our lives here as the "practice run" for the big show.
God tells of the dangers of living for the here and now; living with the standards of the world. He calls it 'spiritual adultery'. (James 4:4) God knows that in order to live this life, we have to adopt certain customs of this world for a time. But He does not want us to adopt the wrong things; the wrong attitudes. We are always to be striving for our place in heaven. As such, we are to be loyal to God. (2 Cor 5:20)
Just as we live on earth now, we are to remember that it is God's property ~ we are only stewards or renters, if you will, for a time. (1 Pet 2:11) Remember, we are preparing for something even better than this life. It is not the end of the story. It continues in eternity.
This side of eternity often seems empty. We are not completely happy because we are not supposed to hold on to the things of this world. Remember we were created with eternity in mind, so we should live for the eternal prizes, and not for earthly "things". (2 Cor 4:18)
Point to Ponder
This world is not my home.
Verse to Remember
2 Cor 4:18
Question to Consider
How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?
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