07/21/2024
For some, life is a struggle. For others life can seem to be going great. Their lives seem fulfilling with their job, their hobbies and activities, and their relationships. One might even believe that all of the perceived good in their life is something they are creating for themselves. They can be so content that they see no need to worry about God, Jesus, death, heaven, etc. But we all know life is short. Sometimes much shorter than we ever imagine. How often have you heard about a sudden tragic death and the words “they were too young”?
1 John 2:15-17 warns us "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever."
We are warned against being enamored with worldly pursuits and pleasures, which can lead people away from God. Satan can deceive by making these pursuits seem fulfilling and sufficient, distracting from the eternal perspective of God's kingdom.
Matthew 16:26 states "For what will it profit a person if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?" Jesus challenges the notion that worldly success or contentment can compensate for spiritual neglect. Satan may tempt individuals to prioritize material gain and temporal pleasures over their relationship with God, leading to spiritual emptiness.
The Bible encourages us to enjoy life and its blessings but to maintain a focus on eternity and God's kingdom. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 says "I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; and also that every person should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God."
But then Paul instructs us through a conversation with Timothy (1 Timothy 6:17) to remind believers that God provides good things for us to enjoy. However, the focus should not be on material wealth or earthly pleasures alone but on God, who is the ultimate source of all blessings and the guarantor of our eternal hope.
But why does God make things so hard then? Why does He allow these temptations? Why does He allow good things in life if it is a distraction? We need to understand the significance of free will. We are not slaves to God. His desire for your affections are a desire for sincere affection. If you were forced to love God it would not be true. The choice is ours individually.
The point to all of this is we all know we will die. And common sense should bring to light that we did not just become life from nothing. There is a creator beyond our limitations that provided you with life. And that life here will end. And that end could be today, tomorrow or years from now. You may face death slowly and have time to reflect on this stuff but death could also come quickly. So while you enjoy the blessings of this life you should still put in the time to understand that it’s all temporary and there is a much bigger picture. A much more important destination and we should all know what that means for each of us.
