To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First,
compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a
temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached. Ask God
to help you see life on earth as he sees it. David prayed, “Lord, help me to
realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for
but a moment more.”
In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a
significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life—longings that will
never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We’re not completely happy here
because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created
for something much better.
In God’s eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve
prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a
temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in
eternity. Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must
wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters. It takes faith to live on earth
as a foreigner.
When life gets tough, when you’re overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if
living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At
death you won’t leave home—you’ll go home.