What is Life?
Posted 9/15/2001
The Bible makes it clear that life is a momentary, transient thing. The most common allegory is grass.
Life is like grass
- It withers away so quickly Is 40:6, Ps 103:15
- It blows away easily in the wind Is 40:7, Ps 103:16
- It is readily cut Job 14:2, Ps 90:6
Life is short
- It goes by as fast as a weaver's shuttle Job 7:6 <i.e., like a print head>
- It flies by like a message runner Job 9:25 <i.e., like an email message>
- As long as a handbreadth Ps 39:5
- Vanishes like a shadow Ps 102:11
Job spends chapters 7 and 14 talking about how short life is, and how permanent death is.
If that were all the Bible had to say about life, living would be incredibly depressing and useless. However, more often than not, the brevity of our lives is used as a comparison to the eternality of God.
God is forever
- His Word stands for ever Is 40:8, 1Pe 1:25
- He will be the same for all generations Ps 102:12
- His mercy and righteousness last from everlasting to everlasting Ps 103:17
Yes, our life here is short, but it's really just the beginning. Our eternal life is with God, and we can start it now!
Therefore
- Put aside evil 1Pe 2:1
- Long for the word of God 1Pe 2:2
- Desire God's Word as a starving, parched traveler Ps 19:10, Mt 5:6, Ps 42:1, Ps 63:1, Ps 63:2
- Eat and drink everlasting refreshment Joh 6:27, Joh 6:51, Joh 4:14
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