NOTHING IS PERMANENT

“For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” 2 Corinthians 4:18 

Have you ever bought something new before which you didn’t want anyone to touch? I mean you guarded the thing jealously for many days, months or years. But after a while, you could leave it anywhere and not bother if anyone touched it or not. The truth is that all the things we are struggling to acquire on earth now would mean nothing to us later. Yes, everything on earth would lose its beauty, grandeur, appeal, value, etc with time. For example, there are buildings that once looked like Presidential Villas but later become a refuse dump years after the demise of the owner. Yes, nothing on earth is permanent. Therefore, it is a miserable thing to live for things.

This earth is not permanent; but eternity is permanent (Heb 13:14). Sometimes one is up; another time one could be down. Nobody occupies any office forever. That’s why we have ex-this and ex-that! There is nothing we have or we’re going through, positive or negative, that is permanent.

Unfortunately, many people do not seem to understand this salient truth. Some political office holders get carried away by the power and authority of their offices and act as if they will be there forever. The truth is that your time here on earth is not permanent; it is temporal. The heroes and the heroines of faith listed in the Bible all died; they didn’t live forever (Heb. 11:13). Their sojourn on earth was temporal. Nothing is permanent here. Your life is passing away too, like a smoke (Psalm 102:3). You’re a sojourner and pilgrim on earth (1 Peter 2:11). This world is not your home; it is your temporary abode. Nothing is permanent.

Beloved, please focus on that which is permanent – eternity. Where will you spend your eternity? Please always look at everything through the lens of eternity (2 Corin. 4:17-18). Don’t let anything you have or any position you occupy get to your head. Everybody prays for the best, but times do change! Even a good time can become better. Nothing is permanent. Even the Permanent Secretary knows that! Someone may make himself a President for life but he can’t say no to death when it comes. You can silence the voice of opposition on earth but the trumpet of eternity cannot be silenced. You can manipulate the constitution and people to remain in power forever but when death comes, it ends everything. Lobatan! Nothing is permanent in life.

It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, judgment (Heb. 9:27). Always think about your end. Give your life to Jesus today. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Col. 3:2). Live your life, knowing that you will die one day and you will meet your Maker. Eternity is a step away. It is just a breath away. Any moment can land one in eternity to face the consequences of his or her decisions or indecisions on earth.  

This powerful hymn below reechoes God’s counsel to us in Amos 4:12 on the subject matter:  

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD By J. H. Stanley

1. Careless soul, why will you linger,

Wand’ring from the fold of God?

Hear you not the invitation?

Oh, prepare to meet thy God.

Refrain:

Careless soul, oh, heed the warning,

For your life will soon be gone;

Oh, how sad to face the judgment,

Unprepared to meet thy God.

2. Why so thoughtless are you standing,

While the fleeting years go by,

And your life is spent in folly?

Oh, prepare to meet thy God.

3. Hear you not the earnest pleadings

Of your friends that wish you well?

And perhaps before tomorrow

You’ll be called to meet your God.

4. If you spurn the invitation

Till the Spirit shall depart,

Then you’ll see your sad condition,

Unprepared to meet thy God.

As we journey to eternity, may we not hold on to the fading rags that the world calls beauty and forfeit the dazzling glory of eternity awaiting us in Heaven. 

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com