FLEETING LIFE— FAITHFUL FOCUS
FLEETING LIFE— FAITHFUL FOCUS
I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. —Psalm 38:18
“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! —Psalm 39:4-6
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! —Psalm 40:17
How sad is the outcome of the Garden of Eden when Adam & Eve sinned. Sin, we should be sad when we commit it. If we are not, then that says much about us. If our sin does not bother us it may be telling that we have never called on Jesus to save us. For sin not to bother us, if we are not sorrowful for it, then there is little regard for what Jesus has done on the cross when He said, “It is finished.” It was at that time that Jesus was the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice, the sacrifice for sin that pleased His Father (I John 2:2). Jesus’ substitutionary death opened up the way to know God through Him. “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” from their sin (Romans 10:13) and never be condemned (John 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24). Jesus took our condemnation! So, if sin does not bother you, then you have a low view of Jesus and what He has done at the cross for you!
Life is short! If you have not, then confess your sin and turn to Jesus, calling on His Name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw If you do know Jesus and sin, then “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). As soon as we sin, we should confess it to God and desire not to repeat it! Be right before God. Our days are short. They are as a few handbreadths, are as nothing to God, as a mere breath or fleeting shadow. Yes, life is short!
As a follower of Jesus, I know that I am poor and needy. I am also grateful for my Lord’s thoughts toward me and that He is my help. I will depend on Him because without Him I am nothing and I can do nothing.
Yesterday, my wife and I visited the Castle in the Clouds and it was a stark reminder how wealth is fleeting— “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:5). https://www.castleintheclouds.org/ The man who bought over 6,000 acres, had the largest shoe manufacturing business in the world at the time, died mortgaged and his wife went back to Illinois to her family. He lost it all…
What are you and I living for? That which is temporary or that which is eternal? Dear Father, please help us to focus on those things that will last forever and not be short-sighted and just living for the temporal. Oh, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3yUyDzP3z4
I was just reminded of the Parable of the Rich Fool that Jesus told in Luke 12:13-21. He saved up all for himself and when he was going to retire and enjoy his stuff— he died with those thoughts last on his mind…