TCH MINI-STUDY 17
LIFE ON THIS EARTH IS TEMPORARY:
In comparison to eternity, life on earth is very short, and also
according to the scriptures, a vanity.
As evidenced within the scriptures, God the Father certainly views our earthly and fleshly
lives as temporary, and vain, and so should we. It is important to keep our attitudes about this life in perspective. Look what Paul
wrote the believers in Corinth: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children,
then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present [brief] time are not worthy to be compared with the [eternal] glory which shall be revealed
in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject
to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:16-23).
Pertinent Verses:
LORD,
make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as
an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah (Psalms 39:4-5).
Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers [having a home near, a foreigner] and pilgrims [a resident foreigner], abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).
For our [anticipated and future] conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one
to come (Hebrews 13:14).
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you (Matthew 5:12).
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared withthe glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23).
Blessed
are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
For
we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places
to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts
that perish (Psalms 49:11-12).
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth
over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more (Psalms 103:15-16).
Mine age is departed, and is removed
from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night
wilt thou make an end of me (Isaiah 38:12).
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting
you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me (2 Peter
1:13-14).
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but
thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed (Psalms
102:25-26).
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13).
And there was given him
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14).
Now therefore, our God, we thank
thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?
for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our
fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding (1 Chronicles 29:13-15).
Hide not thy face from me
in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like
smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth (Psalms 102:2-3).
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to
that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that
be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel
12:1-3).
The apostle John wrote, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed
away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words
are true and faithful (Revelation 21:1-5).
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee,
though
thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun,
and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD,
and there is
none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things. Drop down,
ye heavens, from above, and let the
skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth
salvation, and let righteousness
spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd Strive with the
potsherds
of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest
thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
(Isaiah 45:5-9).
"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I
shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance"
(Psalms 42:3-5).
THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”
(1
Corinthians 2:12-14).
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things”
(Philippians
4:8).
