The Bible is full of metaphors that teach the brief, temporary nature of life on earth. Life is described as a mist, a fast runner, a breath and a wisp of smoke. The Bible says, "For we were born but yesterday...Our days on earth are transient as a shadow." Job 8:9.
To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths. First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here long, ask God to help you see life on earth as he sees it. David prayed, "Lord, help me to realise how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for bit a moment more." Psalm 39:4. God's Word repeatedly compares life on earth to temporarily living in a foreign country. This is not your permanent home or final destination. The Bible uses terms like alien, pilgrim, stranger, visitor and traveller to describe our brief stay on earth. David said, "I am but a foreigner here on earth," Psalm
119:19. God says that his children are to think differently about life from the way unbelievers do, "All they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives." Philippians 3:19-20. Real believers realise that there will be far more to life than just the few years we live on this planet. Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is heaven. God is very clear about the danger of living for here and now and adopting the priorities, values and lifestyles of the world around us. When we flirt with the temptations of our culture, God calls it 'spiritual adultery', "You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way." James 4:4. The Bible says that we are ambassadors of Christ, but sadly many people who think of themselves as followers of Christ often forget this spiritual truth. They have wrongly concluded that because they live on earth right now that it is their permanent home: It isn't. Peter said, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cosy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul." 1 Peter 2:11.
God warns us not to get too attached to what's around us, because it's all temporary, "Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away." 1 Corinthians 7:31. Modern day life is so easy. We are constantly entertained and catered for, but with all the attractions it's easy to forget that the pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. The fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why we experience difficulty, sorrow and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of God's promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unfair. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God ensures that we feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life, longings that will not be completely happy on earth because this is not our intended home. There will be many happy moments in this life but nothing compared to what God has planned for us. Realising that life on earth is just temporary should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones, should become the deciding factors for your decisions. The Bible says, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 1 Peter 2:11.
It is a big mistake to assume that God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success, as the world defines it. The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance, and faithfulness to God does not guarantee success. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. He's more interested in what you are becoming than in making this life easy for you. Paul was faithful to God yet he ended up in prison. John the Baptist was faithful to God and he was beheaded for it. Untold amounts of faithful people have been martyred, have lost everything, or have come to the end of life with nothing to show for it in the world's eyes. But the end of life is not the end! In God's eyes, the greatest heroes are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity. Once you get to heaven you will quickly wonder why you placed so much importance on temporary, earthly things that don't last. When life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living God's way is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home - you'll go home.
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