Life here on earth, no matter the number of years, passes away. Inevitably our flesh returns to the dust from whence we came. When we look at the big picture, eternity, the span of our lives is but for a moment. We are reminded of this in Psalm 90:9. “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.”
We spend our years as a tale that is told. I thought this sentence was quite poetic and one worth pondering. It communicates the idea that life is only as long as a thought or a meditation and then it’s over. When I think about life in this context, it makes me wonder, what’s the point? Life is often hard. If that’s reality and life is so futile, only a passing memory soon to be forgotten, then why bother making a difference? Why not eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die?
Because God is love and also eternal, he made a way for us to share in His everlasting life:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
But in addition, the choices we make and the stories we tell while on earth culminate in an eternal difference.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Our actions here and now produce an eternal result for us. They also have an impact on the lives of those with whom we interact on a daily basis. Think about it: if our lives are but for a moment, then what remains at the end of our days? What lives on, because we lived? Our story. Is it a tale of woe or a tale of triumph? Is it a story of redemption, one that cares about others, or only about self? Tales of triumph are repeated and passed down from generation to generation. Once our tale is complete, it can’t be changed, but the good we’ve done here can inspire others long after we’re gone.
I’ve learned to love reading. A good novel captivates my thought and draws me into the plot. What pulls on my heart even more is a good biography. Though their life has ended, how they lived was worth remembering. Their tale lives on.
Louis Zamperini with Billy Graham
A perfect example is Louie Zamperini. His story can be read in the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption written by Laura Hillenbrand. I highly recommended reading this book.
So what’s your story? Will your tale be as a passing thought or will you leave a legacy worth remembering, worth repeating? The only way to do that is to live what time you have here to the fullest according to God’s Word. To live with purpose and compassion. Remember you cannot out-give God. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and He is the one who has the ultimate say on whether or not your life was well lived.
1Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
If you would like to know more about accepting Jesus, please use this link. The Joy of Knowing Jesus
