Life In A Nutshell
There are those who spend countless hours, days, yea even years pondering the ―great questions‖ of life. Heated debate about man’s origin, purpose, and destiny rages on around the dinner table, the classroom, the workplace, etc. I suppose that most of us enjoy philosophical discussion from time to time, but we must be careful that we generate more light than heat in seeking to answer these fundamental, yet extremely profound, questions. There are many uncertainties that we face in this life, but there are some things that the Bible, and life experience, have taught us to be absolutely certain about life, death, and eternity.
One of the most basic of truths stressed in Scripture, and something we have no doubt come to learn through experience, is that life is brief. I know of no other subject, with the exception of the church of our Lord and perhaps the word of God itself, that is illustrated more often in God’s word than the brevity of life. Job described the fleeting nature of man’s life upon earth fleeing ―as a shadow‖ (Job 14:2). Life passes ―swifter than a weaver’s shuttle‖ (Job 7:6), and ―as the eagle that hasteth to the prey‖ (Job 9:26). Whether man lives but a few years, or sees the century mark, he is soon cut off, and flies away (Psa.90:10). Though this reality is impressed upon us daily, many live as though life shall continue indefinitely. James reminds us, ―Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away‖ (Jas.4:14).
Another basic truth of Scripture is that death and judgment are certain. Life is brief because the harbinger of death pays a visit to us all. It is no respecter of persons, taking young and old, rich and poor, male and female. We each have an appointment with death, followed by the judgment: ―And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment‖ (Heb.9:27). The Psalmist posed this question, ―What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?‖ (Psa.89:48). The certainty of the judgment is based upon the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: ―And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead‖ (Acts 17:30-31).
A final certainty of Scripture with which we will deal is the fact that eternity is forever. Once man answers the call of death, all opportunities to change one’s life are forever lost (Luke 16:25). Death ushers man from the temporal to the eternal, from the changeable to the unalterable. In the Day of Judgment, one of two verdicts will be pronounced. Those who have made wise use of the limited time they have upon earth to serve their Lord will hear, ―Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world‖ (Matt.25:34). To those who have squandered opportunity to obey the gospel or to make their life right with God, the Lord shall say, ―Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels‖ (Matt.25:41). Our time upon earth is intended to serve as preparation for eternity. Sadly, many will wait for death to call, or the Lord to return, before they think about matters eternal. Then shall it be too late!
-Patrick Morrison
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