Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
The average life of man is 70 years and if we are strong, 80 years. We will soon die and leave this world. What we achieve during our lifetime is also but temporal.
The apostle Peter describes our achievement as a flower that blooms and soon it will wither and pass away. 1 Peter 1:24: “For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” The apostle in James also reminds us in James 4:14: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
We should have the mindset of Abraham. He knew his life on earth was temporal. He was well aware that he lived in a tent as a pilgrim, as is recorded for us in Hebrews 11:8-10,
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Knowing the brevity and the temporality of life, we should set our goals as pursuing things that have eternal value. We are reminded in Matthew 6:19-21,
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let us be good stewards of the talents that God has given to each of us. Use our talents to serve God and glorify His name in our life. As parents, let us devote our time and effort to building up children who will fear and love our Lord. Let us take time to teach and discipline our children so that they will grow up to fear God and walk in His ways.
Our church will soon uproot our place of worship from Bukit Batok to Mega@Woodlands. May we seize this opportunity to have someone in mind to invite to come to know our true and living God. Let us pray and labour to win souls for the Lord. Let us make every effort to live a Godly life. Let us be united as a church to do God’s will in gospel work. Let us work hard and labour for the Lord in bringing the lost to salvation.
Let us carry our luggage bags, with only the necessities for the trip. Let us live like a traveller or Abraham and realise that our life on earth is brief and temporal. May we have the faith of Abraham. He was looking forward to his eternal home with God who is the builder and architect. Let us set our eyes on our eternal home and build treasures that will last for all eternity.