Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Psalms 39:5
For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread. Psalms 102:3-4
My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass. Psalms 102:11
A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:6-8
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ Luke 12:20
Who knows how much time any of us have? How many have we seen in the last year who just dropped dead? How many are being killed in war and wanton violence daily? Yet we live like we have never considered how close we all are to losing this physical life. The snap of a finger. A breath. A puff of smoke. A car crash just beyond our driveway. A stray bullet falling or shot in our direction. A pharmaceutical reaction. There are increasing opportunities for death as this growing evil washes over the globe.
Yet as Kingdom Citizens we should not be alarmed or live in fear. Did you know the concept of ‘hope’ in the Bible is vastly different than our cultural definition of the word ‘hope’? We almost see hope in this culture as childish if not downright foolish. People who hope are often thought of not being aware of reality. Yet hope in God and His promises to us are not the same as we have been taught to think of as hope. Most of the uses of the word ‘hope’ in the Greek is elpis, which means properly, an expectation of what is sure (certain); hope. There isn’t any idea of this type of hope to be as wishful thinking — but an ‘inner knowing’ what is a “sure” and certain expectation.
How do we experience this ‘sure expectation’? How do we fight off all those nagging doubts and thoughts telling us we are foolish to believe in that direction? We have to utilize the fruit the Holy Spirit in which He has been grooming and growing within us …beginning with self control. It is us listening to His Voice and believing what He is telling us over our doubts and fears. It is bringing EVERY thought before Him for examination. This takes discipline and practice. Are there any ways we can strengthen our souls against the onslaught of the enemies lies against us? Yes. There is a discipline of gratefulness. Begin by thanking God for ALL He has given you daily. Not just the ‘big’ things but also the mundane things, like your breathing, and heartbeat, and ability to walk and move and speak. There are SO many things we take for granted. A soul bathed in gratefulness is one that has the best foundation for the ‘joy of the Lord’. Take time everyday to praise Him and thank Him for all He has given you and is doing for you.
Unfortunately we will begin to see a much greater number of people committing suicide. Without the assurance and a real ‘hope’ (A spiritual hope and an inner knowing by the witness from the Holy Spirit) people will succumb to the lies of the enemy to just kill themselves when they are overwhelmed with the feelings of ‘helplessness’. They are prey to the spiritual warfare and the enemy’s lies that is completely surrounding them of which they are totally unaware. But this should NOT be you!
Learn to walk, talk, and listen to the Holy Spirit throughout your day. Learn to practice gratefulness when things seem to be coming against you. Learn how to praise Him in the most painful and difficult circumstances and situations. Is He / the Holy Spirit calling you to greater discipline in your life? Be faithful and do it!
We have eternity with Him to look forward to! Each day is a gift from Him. Use it wisely.