To Live Is Christ, All Other Things Are Temporal

Therefore all other things are rubbish. 

Have you ever seen pictures like this? This is a picture of a town following a Tornado passing through. This is what was left in its wake. Each one of these piles of rubbish was a home. A place where people lived, dreamed, loved, and lost. Each one of these people had cherished possessions that they kept in places of honor, or locked up to protect them. Never in their wildest dreams did they think that one day, this is what they would be looking at. It is all gone. Everything. In a moment, their lives were forever changed.

In most cases, most people in this situation do what they can do. Move on. Rebuild, and start gathering new stuff. Why? Because all the stuff they used to have is gone. Because all that is in this physical realm is temporal. It will all be gone one day. Look what Jesus said to His disciples when they were admiring the beautiful buildings and synagogues of the time.

"Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2

Why would He say that? Because it is true. We read things like this.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Revelation 21:1

And this

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." Isaiah 65:17

Jesus tells us this day is coming.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Matthew 24:35

We know that we do not know when it will happen. Jesus tells us this.

"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30

I want you to think about this. Forget the "End Times" for a second. I know, many love to think about, talk about, and even argue about, the "End Times," but I want you to think about that Tornado. The day before, everyone in that town was simply living their lives. They were going to work or school, they were dating, getting married, and going on vacation. Saving up for that next big thing. They were arguing about what was for dinner and what movies to watch. The kids were playing and laughing. Then, with minimal warning, it was all gone out of nowhere.

Think about 9/11/2001. over 3000 people woke up for the last time that day on this earth. It was an ordinary mundane Tuesday. I was off that day. Nothing really planned. I turned on the news and saw a plane crash into the World Trade Center. Then another. In a moment, with little warning, everything was gone, things changed forever.

The point is, what will happen tomorrow? What about before we even finish discussing this today? The truth is, we do not know. My Grandmother was a great lady. She was well-loved in town. She pretty much fed the entire town from time to time. I thank God regularly for allowing me to be born where and when I was and for the fact, that I had the honor to grow up in my Grandmother's house. My Grandfather had Parkinson's Disease. My Grandmother had to do everything for him. One day, at around 2 am she stood up and dropped dead to the ground following a major heart attack.

In all these cases, The Tornado, 9/11, and my Grandmother, none of these were the "End Times." But for them, those involved, it was the end of their time. It does not have to be "The End Times." for you to be called home. Look at the parable of the Rich man and his barns in Luke 12:13-21 Jesus tells us that even though we do everything we can to build up our own riches, it does not really matter in the end. He said this.

"But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

Jesus tells us that we should

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Mattew 6:33

He says,

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Why?

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Every other goal is bound to death and decay. Think about that. I will say it again. Every other goal is bound to death and decay. I firmly believe that this is why Paul made the statement that we are discussing today.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3:8

Take that brand-new car. You saved, you worked hard, and you were able to go get it. You have now had that car, once shiny and new, for a few years. Now a few more. It is paid for. It is yours. You grew up in that car. Your Family has gone to many places. It has served you well. But now? Now things are starting to fail. It breaks down. It doesn't run right. Before you know it? It sits in a field and rusts away. That once beautiful shiny new car that you could not live without, is now nothing more than forgotten rubbish.

It really does not matter how well it was built. In the long run, it really does not matter how well you cared for it. In time it just becomes rubbish. Why? Because it is nothing more than a temporal thing, in a temporal world. But here is the thing, you are not. Are you still with me? This just became a two-parter. Hey, we do what God leads us to do. This just became a two-parter. We are talking to someone today.

You are not temporal. You never were. Oh, you were not always saved, but you were never temporal. God created you out of love, to live for and with Him. You were never temporal. God gave you this time on this earth for a reason, but you were never meant to stay here. Well, you were, but then Adam messed that up, so then, you were never meant to stay here, in this broken world. You are not temporal.

God had to lay down His Godhood, and put on flesh, to come and to teach, and to save, as many of us that are truly willing to believe and accept Him. He had to do it to bridge the gap WE created, between temporal and immortality. But look here. Daniel wrote this.

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2

Jesus put it this way.

"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29

You ARE going to live on. After this life here in the temporal world, you will live on. Where you continue to live is your choice. What makes more sense to you? Building up treasures here on this earth that you will leave behind? Concerning yourself with the things of this temporal world? No. I submit to you, that it is far wiser to start seeking first the Kingdom of God. Trust in Him to meet your needs. Make sure that you are ready when the time comes to move on. As God asked the rich man, so think about it for yourselves if your "End Time" was to come today, who's stuff with all your stuff be? More importantly, what do you have waiting for you when you get there? More on that next time.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be well, be blessed, and Jesus IS Lord!