Not the Situation, Rather, How You Respond 3

 Just understand it is temporary.

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 an instant, their lives were forever altered.

In most cases, people in this situation do what they can: they move on, rebuild, and start gathering new possessions. Why? Because everything they used to have is gone, and all that exists in this physical realm is temporary; it will all disappear one day. Just look at what Jesus said to His disciples when they admired the beautiful buildings and synagogues of that 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

Just like the houses and even the lives of those involved, this world, and all that is in it, is temporal. This is what we will be discussing today. Let us pray.

God, we love you and come before you today with thanksgiving and a willingness to learn from your Word. Please be with us and grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit of understanding, as we enter into your Word and learn what you wish us to learn, in Yeshua’s name, amen!

We know that we cannot predict when it will happen. Yeshua, or 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." However, 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, or 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.

What will happen tomorrow? What about before we even finish discussing this today? We truthfully do not know. It does not have to be the end of the world to be your last day on earth. All those things that you loved and cherished, displayed or locked up for safety, all gone.

You know what else is gone? Sickness and disease. Death and morning. Sadness and fear. God Himself will wipe the tears from your eyes. Why are you worried about anything?

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

Ever been through a storm? Think about that tornado again. Or even that hurricane; I lived in Florida for 22 years. I’ve seen my fair share. What happens after the storm? The skies are clear, and the sun comes out. All is calm and starts to get better. It was temporal. It was for a moment in time, and now it is gone.

Things happen. Good, bad, and yes, even the ugly. Bad things do happen to good people. This is not even a question. It is a fact. You have to keep in mind that this is all temporal.

The Good? No matter how good, it is a moment in time.
The Bad? No matter how bad, it is a moment in time.
The ugly? Yup, it is just a moment in time.

Whatever the “thing” is that is happening, it is a moment in time. Think about this. So is your very life. On average, if you are blessed with a long time on earth, we are talking 75 years. 75. Think about that. You go to school more than 75 days a year. You work more than 75 days a year. You get 75 birthdays, summers, winters, springs, and falls. If you are blessed with that long a time here.

But what is 75 years in the span of eternity? 75 years here, with sickness and disease, death and sorrow, storms and pain, loss and gain. Compare that to an eternity. Forever. This is what happens after this.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also, he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

This is for us and the children of God. If you are not?

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

God had to set aside His divinity and take on flesh to come, teach, and save those of us willing to believe and accept Him. He needed to do this to bridge the gap we created between mortality 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 will live on. After this life here in the temporal world, you will continue to live. Where you go next is your choice. Does it make more sense to you? Building up treasures here on earth that you will leave behind? Focusing on the things of this temporary world? No. I tell you, it is much wiser to start seeking first the Kingdom of God. Trust in Him to provide for your needs. Trust in His Word to tell you the difference between sin and what is good and acceptable for the LORD. Make sure you are prepared when the time comes to move on.

This storm? Temporal.
This job was lost? Temporal.
This heartache? Temporal.
This sickness? Temporal. Even if it leads to death here.

1- Lay a solid foundation that can not be moved.
2- Seek first God and His kingdom in all things and all ways. He is in charge.
3- Accept things for what they truly are. Not overwhelming. Not scary. Not ever much to worry about. God is now, has always been, and will always be, in charge.

If you are His child and He is your Father, what do you possibly have to worry about? Yes, things will happen. Yes, storms will come. Yes, there will be times of sorrow and discomfort. If you are His child, just know, it is temporary. No matter what it may be.

If you are not His Child? I would seriously consider rethinking that fact. Only through Yeshua, or Jesus as translated, are you able to do that. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9.

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!