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Brevity Of Days,
Length Of Eternity
by Brook Wayne
Recently, I passed another birthday, and with it came thoughts many
hold in common on just such occasions—life is going so fast! Didn’t
I just have a birthday?
When I was a little girl I remember counting down the days until my
birthday for the entire preceding month. I looked forward with
relish to being able to say I was eight, or nine, or ten, or
whatever the birthday would mark. Yet now, I’m realizing that the
days go by so quickly. Each week rolls into another, and each one is
filled. I have it on good authority from several individuals in
their seventies and eighties that the feelings I’m having only
increase! These thoughts only bear witness to the truth “Life is
short.” The world believes this, too, and lives accordingly. As
followers of Jesus, we understand that life is short, but also that
“Eternity is long,” and my hope is that each one of us will live
accordingly.
My husband wrote a song about a year ago with a poignant, yet simple
line that says “Life changes and we grow.” That’s true, too, isn’t
it? Life does change! Whether we like it or not, changes come into
our lives just as certainly as the seasons change. And we can grow
from those changes. There is nothing we can do about the external
circumstances in our lives changing. However, we can choose to grow
in each situation—or not.
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Life still goes by fast, but if each day is set apart listening to
the voice of the Shepherd, surrendering to His calling, then we
won’t have to worry about the speeding days. What a quiet rest can
be ours to know each day was lived obediently to Jesus.
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The masterminded working of God in the lives of His people
absolutely amazes me. He sees each situation, each circumstance, and
knows exactly what to send our way to provide the life lessons we
need. For those that love the Lord, everything works out to bring
forth good. But the call we’ve received isn’t to a passive
lifestyle—“what will be, will be.” It is a life of dedication—to
pick up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him. What could be a
better definition of loving Jesus, but to pick up our cross, deny
ourselves and follow Him? After all, it was Jesus that said, “If you
love Me, obey My commands.” If we want to grow in this life, we have
a simple call. It has nothing to do with our flesh and self, but
everything to do with surrender to Jesus. Just like our
relationships with our family, that is a commitment we make
everyday. Each and everyday we have the choice set before us,
whether on THIS day, THIS moment, THIS situation we will surrender
to the Lord, and grow from it.
Life still goes by fast, but if each day is set apart listening to
the voice of the Shepherd, surrendering to His calling, then we
won’t have to worry about the speeding days. What a quiet rest can
be ours to know each day was lived obediently to Jesus.
Even in the busy days of childrearing, providing our families with
meals, clean clothes and a tidy home, we can’t risk allowing the
swiftness of life to overtake us. The call to live as Christ’s
disciples requires our answer now. We only have this one lifetime on
earth, and it is short. But eternity is long. Will you commit to
living this short life with the length (and glory!) of eternity in
view?
Brook is the wife of Israel Wayne. They are the parents of three
children. Brook delights in her calling as a wife and mother and
enjoys keeping a home for her family.
This article was published in
An Encouraging Word issue #45, and may not be
reprinted or distributed in any form without express written consent
from the publisher. All Rights Reserved.
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