In Light of Eternity

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. Leaves change color and leave a distinct frangrance in the air. Then as Winter comes they drop off leaving layers unraked on the grass. Sometime a few leaves linger on the branches, but eventually blow off in the chilly breeze. Then in Spring a new coat of leaves cover the trees. And we forget about the many from the previous year. They are gone.

Just like leaves our life will come and go. People may not remember us forever. We fade away in a moment...just like a vapor. In view of the life that flies before us, that is gone in an instant, it is hard to grasp eternity.

For me, it is so easy to forget exactly how long forever is going to be! Our finite brains can't even comprehend heaven and eternity. Here on earth our way of thinking is, I'm born. I get older and die. Somewhere in there we place our goals and dreams. We work hard for something and then it is gone.

Death comes without awareness. Sometimes we are called home before the "normal" age. But many of us are blessed with a long life, so to speak. If we succeed at life we die happy.

But, what if, like I said, the Lord took us home before "our time"? What if our dreams were interupted with a nightmare-death? What would we have to offer? What would we say to our Maker?

As I try to comprehend eternity, I find myself asking these questions. What am I really striving for? Why am I here, after all?

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes, "...Everthing is meaningless under the sun." What we work for or long for has no eternal value unless it is for Christ. That is why we are here. Not to waste our lives on earthly pleasures that are only a vapor, but to live our lives in light of eternity.

Living in light of eternity, I believe, is putting everything aside and running for the finish goal giving all you have to Jesus. What more could we want then to give our live to Jesus Christ who gave His life for us? Nothing.

Romans 10:11 says, "No one who believes in Him shall ever be put to shame." Giving our lives to God and believing that He is all will not be a sad outcome. When we reach heaven after living a life striving for the Lord, we will not be disappointed. I do think we would be ashamed if we had nothing to offer. But what is done for Christ will last!

Just like a leaf, all will pass away. No earthly thing will last forever. Our life and posessions fade and disappear before us. They are gone in a moment. We have a choice either to live our lives in the moment for what we can see here on this earth, or live our lives in light of eternity.