Genealogies in Scripture are usually the chapters that get glazed over. Of which I am guilty. Yet, this is our heritage. Those who went before us, paint a picture of God's beautiful orchestration of redeeming mankind to Himself. The people and times were not an accident, mistake, or oversight. None of it just "happened." The entire time, a way was being prepared for salvation! Now the mission remains the same - for the nations to know and glorify our Creator.
I have wondered recently, how many times do I seek comfort or to be comfortable? As a good friend challenged me, "ask God to NOT make you comfortable" - to NOT get comfortable here on earth or seek it above His glory. We have good reason to not be comfortable here - this is not our home! We have so much more to look forward to, yet we sometimes get used to or even like the "muck" here. While "comfort" is not a sin, and can in different contexts even be renewing at times, if my comfort in this life comes before obedience - it is wrong. When my days are done, which is one of the few things in life we can be certain will happen, will I look back and be glad that I was comfortable? compromised for a person's approval? had great vacations or followed the jobs with the best benefits? or that I was obedient to God's Word? took risks to speak up for Truth? passionately lived out the gospel with integrity and character? perhaps these desires will not conflict, but I believe that to be the exception and not the rule. I pray that this generation is challenged to not live passively - while that is most definitely easier, but to serve with a burden, to have a reason for each action, and to redeem the time. When your branch of your family tree is finished, will those who come behind us find us faithful? When our 70 years or more or less is soon over, will it have been an investment in eternity?
Our life which at times may feel like we have forever to live or years and years to spend, will one day be a short name and dates on a page. In reality life is short, and many times wasted.
- Jam 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Job 7:6-7 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle… my life is wind…
- 1 Pet 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower fadeth away.
- Is 40:6-7 … All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field… the grass withereth and the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
- Job 14:1-2 Man… is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth like a shadow, and continueth not.
- Job 8:9 … our days upon earth are a shadow.
- 1 Chr. 29:14-15 But who am I, and what is my people… for we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our father: our days on earth are as a shadow, and there is none binding.
- Is 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
- Is 50:9 Behold, the Lord God will help me: who is he that shall condemn me? Lo that all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
... The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Act 22:14-15