Life on Earth is a brief sojourn. It is only 


temporary, a test of our faith, a transitory


 screening, a journey to the ultimate destination 


of eternity. It is critical that we live our lives 


with a focus on the afterlife.



We are ambassadors on this earth. We are only 


here for a short period of time. Our true home 


is in heaven. The Scriptures contain numerous 


teachings on the brevity of life. Everything 


comes to an end, including the good, bad, and


 difficult times.



To make the most of our lives, we must 


understand and accept that our lives are 


ebbing away in comparison to eternity.



While thinking about death (our own 


and others') is uncomfortable, it is also 


comforting to remember that the 


forthcoming realm, the new Jerusalem, 


will be a permanent dwelling with no 


more tears, heartbreak, anger, or pain. 




We are told that if we are true believers,


we will never die. Yes, our physical 


bodies will die, but our souls will live 


forever in a world free of death, pain, 


and sorrow.




Understanding that both the best and 


worst of times will pass... allows us to


 critically evaluate our lives and learn to 


appreciate how blessed we are on so many 


levels... as well as not take our journey for 


granted.

 Our past is in the rearview... it's gone... it's over. It 


has served its purpose. Knowing the consequences 


of our past hiccups helps us better recognize and 


avoid potential problems in the future. Our past has 


way of better preparing us for our future.


This is a new day! 


Let us look back on our past and see how far we


 have come along, and accept that life is but a 


series of phases... it is all fleeting. 

Even when our troubles seem bigger than they are


and our lives feel like a spiral into the abyss... life is 


constantly changing.

Life is an amazing journey that is constantly changing.

Time flies! 


Time seems to accelerate as we get older. 


Many of us, especially as we age, gauge 


the passage of time expectedly, thoughtfully, 


retrospectively and gratefully. In other words, 


we look at time, right now, and assess how 


quickly time is passing by at this moment, and


 we also look back and assess how fast yesterday 


or last week went by. 


Many think of life in terms of where did all the 

time go? Looking back at history brings mixed 

emotions and humble thankfulness. When we 

think how fast time goes by and how precious and 

impermanent each moment is... the temporariness 

has the ability to simplify, clarify, and shift our

 perceptions and approach to life. 

People of all ages usually have this gut-reaction 

and wonderment as well.

Every thought, feeling, emotion and situation in life 


are all temporary. There is nothing that we have in 


this life guaranteed, with the exception of change.


Whatever our perception of time might be... 


it's temporary. 


NOW is the time to seek God, 


be grateful, walk in our calling, 


savor new experiences, 


and use our lives wisely! 


Right now is temporary. Once this moment is gone, 


we cannot bring it back.



Many people strive for...



Living the good life.

When it comes to our achievements, some feel they 

hold some sort of clout in the Kingdom of God that 

trumps Jesus, Who should be the ultimate desire

 of their hearts. 



Our culture’s egotistical reality and their unhealthy 


preoccupation with status and success can corrupt 


God-honoring aspirations through systems that 


reward self-aggrandizement over charity, and 


egocentricity over humility.



Worldly possessions can bring us a measure of 


worldly stability and security; however, things of 


the world have only fleeting value. Understand that


 this is also a phase that will end.



Some have compromised their integrity for a perceived


 greater good. What can be seen and touched... 


will not last.



We must set our trajectory upon God rather 


than our own self-aggrandizement.

Every thought, feeling, emotion and situation 


in life is temporary. 



By thinking a new thought, we can often feel 


a new feeling, it's all temporary. Feelings change


 as dynamically as our needs change, it's all 


temporary.



Emotions are also temporary. That's why they are 


called emotional states, it's all temporary.


Every situation in life... they are all temporary.


Far too often, we trade the pursuit of lasting 


fulfillment for instant gratification... 


a temporary thrill. 


More money = greater happiness?


It is easy to allow temporary things to consume all 


of our energy and efforts and become more of 


harsh taskmaster... than a luxury. 



 Self-centered desires can rob us


 of true joy and happiness. 



The temporary can cause one's emotions to teeter


 fiercely at times. Sadly, many people have 


remained unfulfilled and wondered why their 


lives, regardless of their lot in life,

 

still comes up empty.



He who loves money will not be satisfied with 


money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain.


 This too is vanity (emptiness). When good things 


increase, those who consume them increase. So 


what advantage is there to their owners except to


 see them with their eyes? The sleep of a working


 man is sweet, whether he eats little or much;but 


the full stomach (greed) of the rich [who hungers 


for even more] will not let him sleep.


Ecclesiastes 5:10-12




“If you make a habit of buying things 


you do not need,


 you will soon be selling things you do.” 


 Filipino Proverb


Many who are rich in temporals are poor in 


spirituals. Some who are poor outwardly are 


inwardly rich!

There are valuable pursuits available to us:


God, love, justice, faith, 


compassion, contribution, 


redemption,


just to name a few. These should be pursued 


with great fervor. 

One can do many things without God such as:


acquire wealth, start a business, get an education,


buy cars, homes, etc., but we truly believe that...


true peace, joy, and fulfillment in our lives can 


only be realized... when God is at the helm of our 


lives.



God does not want our things. God wants our heart. 


Our things, however noble, cannot justify deformation


 of the soul.

Many who are rich in temporals are poor in 


spirituals. Some who are poor outwardly are 


inwardly rich!

What is contentment? 


Money can’t buy it, and poverty doesn’t give it.


Contentment comes from being satisfied and 


thankful for who you are and where you find 


yourself in life. 


When the good life is 


separated from the God life...


it is futile and meaningless.

Many are 


Spiritually hungry, 


in this land of plenty... and will 


remain unfulfilled without God. 

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor 


he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity 


(emptiness). When good things increase, those who 


consume them increase. So what advantage is there to 


their owners except to see them with their eyes? The sleep 


of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; 


but the full stomach (greed) of the rich [who hungers for 


even more] will not let him sleep.


There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: 


riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own 


misery. For when those riches are lost in bad investments 


and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing 


in his hand [for the support of the child]. As he came 


naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he 


came; and he will take away nothing from all his labor 


that he can carry in his hand.


Ecclesiastes 5:10-15

 God has no ending, but the 


universe does.



 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty 


handed as on the day we were born. 


We can't take our riches with us.


Ecclesiastes 5:15

What we leave behind us at death:


1. Our worldly goods.


2. Our reputation. The reputation for wisdom or folly, for


 integrity or dishonesty, for kindness or severity, which our


 life has been building up, death cannot destroy, through


 whatever experiences we may then pass. We must be


 content to leave that behind to be associated with our


 name in the memories of all men.


3. The influence for good or evil we exerted on human 


souls.


4. Wise counsel: Wise counsel that should save our loved 

ones from grave mistakes, and guide them to living an 

upright, God-fearing life.

What do we take with us?


1. Our faith in God.


May we always remember and never forget:


Possessions are not permanent...

We can appreciate our money, fame, success, and 


possessions more by not allowing them to define us 


or become a horrible taskmaster who owns our soul.

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