Notes - 12th February 06 |
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| Life is a temporary assignment - The Purpose Driven Life #6 | |||||||||
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'Temporary' signifies for many of us 'brief', 'transient', perhaps even 'insignificant'. The Bible says that life on earth is indeed temporary, but that is not to say that it is lacking in significance. Indeed, life on earth is the one and only opportunity to prepare for eternity, for the destiny that lasts forever. So we have life on earth described in the Bible as a 'mist', a 'breath', a 'wisp of smoke', a 'shadow' - but it is absolutely crucial in the brief span of our lives here on earth to make the best use of the time, and to make wise choices to prepare us for eternity. (1)Rick Warren writes: 'This is not your permanent home or final destination. You're just passing through, just visiting earth.'
Why do we not seem to have that awareness in our time and culture? Why do many of
the spiritual songs from centuries past focus on the theme? (e.g. Deep river, I gotta home
in gloryland).
(2)'Your identity is in eternity and your homeland is heaven.'
How much is your heart tied to heaven, how much is it tied to earth?
(Read Luke 12:32-34) How do you think it is possible for us
to ensure our treasure is in heaven? The US Declaration of Independence (1776) says man has three inalienable rights, 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' However, the Bible would teach us that when we see life as a test, a trust and a temporary assignment, we come to realise that happiness here, is not the chief goal - we are preparing for eternity, for something even better! This is why Christians can endure difficulties, sorrow, rejection, in this world and why we can cope with God's unfulfilled promises, unanswered prayers and unfair circumstances in our lives - because this is not the end of the story! Indeed, even if life on earth is as good as we could wish, there is still a sense in which we would find a certain lack of fulfillment and satisfaction. Why? Because we were made for eternity. 'Realizing that life on earth is just a temporary assignment should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones should become the deciding factors for your decisions.'
How is this showing itself, one way or another, in your life? (Read 1 Cor 3:10-15) What are the achievements and labour that will count for eternity? 'All that is not eternal, is eternally useless'(C.S.Lewis) (3) (Read Hebrews 11:13-16) It takes faith to live on earth like this - how? How can we build up this kind of faith within us? An old story tells of a missionary, retiring from many years overseas, returning to the USA by boat. On the same boat, unknown to the missionary, is the President, travelling incognito for security. As the boat nears the harbour the missionary sees the crowds, flags waving, bands, for a moment he wonders if it is for him, an honour after all these years of service for God. Quickly, he realises that it is for the important passenger on the boat, the President. The missionary slips off the boat, unnoticed, full of self-pity and bitterness, complaining in his spirit to God. Then God gently reminded him, 'But my child, you're not home yet'. Is heaven 'home' for you? (Read John 14:1-3) How can we become more heavenly minded? 'At death you won't leave home - you'll go home.' How do you react to that prospect? Warren writes,'You will not be in heaven two seconds, before you cry out, 'Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy and concern on what was not going to last?''
What priorities and activities do you need to reassess in the light of that?
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