I had a great visit with a friend this morning talking about the brevity of life and the hope of heaven. It is amazing to think about how we live and why we live. So many people live differently when diagnosed with a terminal disease, they get their lives “in order”, and they spend time with “who matters” and do “what matters”. But my question is who is not terminal? We all are not only going to die but we are in fact dying! One may cheat taxes, but they cannot cheat death, it is encroaching upon us with relentless resolve, it will not be thwarted.
With all of the testimonies to this fact surrounding us in the form of cemeteries, mortuaries, pharmacies, and hospitals (by the way does anyone else have trouble finding a parking space at a hospital??), you would think we would get the point: we are a dying people. We must be living with an eternal perspective.
I am so thankful for the Bible. The great book of God! This blessed treasure of promises bridges the chasm of God’s infiniteness by communicating truth to us in a way that we can understand (without compromising!).
And God does speak. His words shine into our hearts like rays into a dark forest. God communicates to us what is important, what he values, what will last long past our fleeting lives. We are busy trying to bottle our breath, but it is fleeting! God says that we are to be impressed with and obsessed with what has eternal significance, namely his glory and his interests.
Colossians 3:1-4 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
What a great text. Keep seeking (ongoing action) Set your mind (ongoing action)….God wants our attention. As Christians this only makes sense, for as the text says, Christ “who is our life” he will be revealed and he will be honored.
You and I may not know how many birthdays we have left, but we do know that there is a glory day in our future, and this is not our glory but Christ’s!! There is a day when we as believers in Jesus Christ will lay aside our earthly encumbrances and stand unhindered by our sin, beholding the infinite glory of our Savior! And this will not be a passing glance, or a fleeting breath, but the eternal enjoyment of fellowship and worship of the Lamb who was slain for sinners like you and me.
