By R. L. Morrison

Many answers have been given to the question of our title. For example, someone wrote a song. Undoubtedly, you have heard it or perhaps sung it many times. "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream." Here is the song writer's answer to the question. But here is another answer to the question, given by a poet: "Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal. Dust thou art, to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul." However, James 4:14, gives an answer which we believe to be worthy of consideration. "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." There are some other scriptures that will help us to understand the "time" of life. "It is as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again" (2 Sam. 14:14). Job described his days (life) thusly: "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." The wise man also speaks on this subject: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed; or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:6-7).

The attitude of some toward life is revealed in the New Testament. "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 Cor. 4:17-18). Again: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labors: yet what I shall choose I wot (know) not" (Phil. 1:21-22). Of Abraham it is said, "For he looked for a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Then it is said of many others named in Hebrews 11, "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. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country" (Heb. 11:13-14).

To these people, this life was only an incident. So shall it be with us and will be IF we compare it to eternity. With these people life was lived with a due sense of responsibility, as a kind of preface to sharing the timeless life with God. To them, the world was only a small part of God's universe. They trained and taught themselves not to be "taken in" by the things of the world, nor to give their hearts to it, and NOT to conform to its practices or measure by its values. They remembered they were strangers and pilgrims, just temporary citizens of earth. Their HOME was in another "LAND" toward which they were traveling day by day. I fear this attitude is seldom found on earth today. We seem to be too easily" taken in" by the world and its practices. Yet, such an attitude as theirs, is the assurance and anchor of every believer to whom Christianity has meaning and hope, not in this life, but in that life which is yet to come. New Testament Christianity (for there is no other) is not a philosophy or a guide to a "way of life", EXCEPT, as it prepares and fits one to share a timeless eternity with God in His rest, finished from the foundations of the world (Hebrews 4:3).

Speculative scientists theorize that our earth had its beginning, perhaps, some four or five billion years ago. They also say the universe originated some fifteen billion years ago, give or take a few billion. We do not believe this and think it is absolutely meaningless to people. It is impossible for the human mind, bound as it is to the clock and calendar, to grasp any sense of reality at all to the meaning of fifteen, five or even one billion years.

BUT, if we want to consider it as time, God WAS fifteen billion years ago, God IS right now, and God WILL BE fifteen billion years hence! The most frightening and awesome sequel I know to add to this is this: YOU and I and every one of we human beings will also be alive and functioning fifteen billion years from now. This is an awe inspiring FACT. We realize this vast period of time is simply stupefying to the human mind. Why? Because in this life, we are limited to minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. This is the way we "count" time. But eternity is not "counted" or "limited" by time. We can live only a few years in this body of flesh. "The days of our years are three score years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10).

These years fly swiftly and become the past. The older one grows, the more rapidly they seem to pass. Most people who are past fifty years of age will agree to this. Younger people may not. But try to think of it this way. Try to compare a life of one hundred years ( a few people live that many years) to fifteen billion. Then compare that life of fifteen billion (if you can imagine it) to eternity, which, of course, is NOT measured by time! And then, think of this: YOU will be alive, not only fifteen billion years from now, but alive in eternity! No, not in this physical body in which you now dwell. It grows old. In it, we suffer the aches and pains that age or passing time brings to us all. We shall dwell eternally in that new body which ALL will receive in that day of the resurrection of all from the dead.

But there is a frightening thing about this eternal dwelling. That limitless period will be one of unspeakable joy, or indescribable misery. And YOU determine, in this life in the flesh, what that life to come will be for you! NOW, while you live and as you live, day by day, you, by your attitude toward this world and the life that is to come, determine exactly what your life in eternity will be! But, if you will, allow me to say this another way. Where you will be in eternity IS determined by the way you live, and the choices you make for yourself, during the incident of this life on the earth.

We are aware that many men do not believe that man is eternal or lives after death. The Bible teaches that we are all made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). God is not physical, but spiritual in nature. God is Spirit (John 4:29).

Eternal means age lasting; perpetual. Now, making the application: "God is spiritual in nature, had no beginning, and will have no end of existence." This is beyond the ability of man to fully comprehend. But man, in the image of God, will also have no end of existence.

Man is a three-fold being. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:23). This says that man consists of a body, life in that body, and spirit. We see the physical body, "see" life in it, but the spirit is not seen.

We recognize that death will eventually claim all living things. There is one exception: Those who are alive on earth at the last day of time will not die, but will be changed (1 Cor. 15:52-53). Paul wrote: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." In verse 44, he said: "It is sown (buried) a natural body, it is raised (resurrected) a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

Physical death came upon the human race because of sin - transgression of God's law (Gen. 2:17). "But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt shurely die." The did die: not physically, for Adam lived to the age of 930 years (Gen. 5:5). But they died spiritually when they disobeyed. God withdrew his promise from the garden and from the people He created: Adam and Eve.

But God purposed to save man, that is, to forgive man, and enable him to again have the fellowship he lost in disobedience. This was accomplished in Christ becoming a man, living as a man, without sin. And then he became a sacrifice for our sins.

Remember this: "Christ is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb. 5:9). YOU can be one of that number. BUT, to be numbered with the redeemed of earth in that day, you MUST learn his will and obey it NOW! Now is the only time we have. Yesterday is gone forever. Tomorrow is a promise we may or may NOT be able to enjoy. Today, then is really the only time we have. At death, we enter eternity, prepared or unprepared, our destiny is sealed. No change is then possible.

Changes must be made NOW, while we live! Do you need to make a change in your life? IF SO, do it NOW! Tomorrow may be too late!!!