Scripture
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
~Psalm 118:1, NLT
Quote
“Nothing, down here {on earth} last forever.”
~John Philips
The quote is generally true but there is at least one exception and that is the LOVE of God. Most things here on earth will perish. We actually live in the age of disposal. They do not build things to last anymore. In the old days TV repair was big business, not anymore. We don’t repair, TV’s, Radio’s, Microwaves, and thousands of other electronic devices; we just throw them in the trash and get a new one. When we moved to Danville in 1979, I had an old 67 chevy step side truck. It had a straight six cylinder engine. There was plenty of room under the hood and almost anyone could work on it. M.D. Prater adjusted my values with his fingers. He had a gauge but used his fingers to fine tune it. Those days are over. Our chevy Colorado has no transmission fluid stick. You can’t check or change it. It is designed in such a way that it has to be carried back to a dealer so they can rip you off. Don’t buy a Colorado: the engines are good, the ride is unbelievable but the transmissions are faulty.
Most things we have here on earth will not last and wealth is one of them. I find it ironic that Nebuchadnezzar carried all the rich Jews to Babylon and gave their land to the poor. The meek shall inherit the earth. Just think about it; most of us spend the majority of our time on things that will not last. The bigger the swing set, the more nuts there are to keep tight. The more you collect, the more time you spend maintaining what you have collected. The bigger your yard, the more time it takes to cut the grass. I have neighbors who have 2-3 acre lawns and every time I go back, I see them on a mower. Is that the way you want to spend your remaining time? Bigger is not always better.
What are some things that endure. Truth, Mercy, love, friendship, family, good deeds, gifts to the church or the needy, worship, to mention a few. Preaching may not make the cut but praise will. What are you spending your time on: the disposable things or eternal things? A good steward will focus on the things that endure.
Extra
I have a lot to be thankful for: the LORD enabled me yesterday. I had unusual liberty at the grave side in Athens. I praise Him for His infinite goodness. Someone came up to me this past week and I cannot remember who it was: they said, “Bro. Jack, you said something years I go that I have never forgotten. I think about it all the time.” Of course my curiosity was about to explode, “What was it?” I said. “You said a man spends the first half of his life accumulating things and the last half giving them up.” I don’t remember saying it but I am glad he remembered and it is a good quote. I have no idea where I got it. I am giving up daily. My friends are living this world at a rapid pace.
Lord Willing we will be doing the grave side service for Agnes Hill this evening at three. This is my son-in-law, Troy Macabee’s mother. She has been at Riverside in Decatur for the past five years. Joe David has gone to Birmingham to check on Jan Fields who is in ICU at Brookwood. Due to physical problems and a tight schedule, I decided not to go with him. I got to Athens just as the service was about to start yesterday. Kenny, the director, said, “Are you married to a Keenum?” He was used to Tim rolling in at the last minute. Joe David is more like Tim than I am. I get agitated when I am not early.
I am loving this weather. It was 59* when I came to the office. You can’t beat it with a stick. I hope you have a great day and a great week. Thanks for reading the blog.