ETERNITY

[Ranb2khz]

Looking Towards Eternal Matters

“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. All the sons of men will be cut down and fade like grass. Why then would you be afraid of a mere human being? You have forgotten that Yahweh, your Maker, stretched out the skies and laid earth’s firm foundation. But you live each day constantly worrying, living in fear of your angry oppressor who is bent on your destruction. But their fury cannot touch you!” ~ Isaiah 51:12-13

Mere mortal objects often influence us out of proportion to their value because of their nearness. For instance, the moon is a small, insignificant body compared to the sun – yet it has far more influence over the tides and many other matters in the earth than the sun has simply because it is so much nearer to us than the sun is. The eternal life (or death for some) that is to come is infinitely more important that the mortal earthly life that now is. I hope that in our hearts we consider that the things that are seen and temporal are mere trifles (of little value or importance) compared with the things that are not seen and eternal. Yet, oftentimes, we allow the less important matters have a greater influence over us than those that are far more important, simply because the temporal earthy things are so much nearer to us. Our eternal destination should be our focus – Heaven is infinitely more desirous that any joy of earth, yet, it seems far off. These earthly (fleshly) fleeting joys may give us greater present comfort – but the eternal matters of where the soul will reside should be the greater focus.

Likewise, many people are more concerned about not causing any waves, nor upsetting others, that we just go along with whatever doesn’t create friction in our mortal lives. The wrath of God should be more dreadful than the anger of man – yet oftentimes a frown or a rebuke from our fellow man will have more of an effect on our hearts, minds and actions than the thought of angering God. This is because the latter appears to be too far away, while we are so near to the former. Many times, it happens that a matter scarcely worth the thought of an immortal spirit causes us to fret and worry day after day. There is some oppressor – as the scriptural text puts it – whom we dread and fear continually – yet we tend to forget the Almighty God who is on our side, and is infinitely stronger than the oppressors, and, He has all things under His control. Furthermore, in hindsight, we often find that many fears entertained by us are really groundless – and some fears would die at once if we simply dared to question them.

We must turn our thoughts and actions away from the temporal distresses of the present – and towards the comfort and joy of eternity.
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~ based upon an excerpt from a Charles Spurgeon Study Bible