LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT

So many metaphors have been used to explain how life is. Life is described as a mist, a fast runner, a breath, and a wisp of smoke. The bible says, for we are born but yesterday, our days on earth are as transient as a shadow. To make the best of this life, we most bare two things in mind; first, compared to eternity, this life is brief and earth is a temporary residence, we wont be here too long so don’t get too attached.

            Imagine yourself as an ambassador sent to an enemy nation to represent your country. You would have to learn their language, be polite and friendly enough to be able to accomplish your mission. But suppose you got too comfortable with the foreign country and became loyal to them, preferring them to your country. Your role as an ambassador would be compromised. Instead of representing your home country, you would start acting as the enemy. You would be a traitor. The bible says we are Christ ambassadors. Many Christians have betrayed Christ and His kingdom. They have concluded that since they are on earth, it is their home. It is not. The bible is clear: friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Gods warns us not to get too attached to things around us because they are temporal. We are told: 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.

            It is only when we remember that this life is a test, trust and a temporal assignment will the appeal of this things lose their grip on our lives. We are preparing for something much better. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. The fact that earth is not our home explains why as followers of Christ we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of Gods promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us feel significant amount discontent and dissatisfaction in life. Longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity; we are not completely happy here because we are not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.