We are transient
(All names and biblical verses have been taken from the english Version of the Bible of Yehoshua Mashiah)
„5 YHWH, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 6 Behold, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before you: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 7 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knows not who will gather them“ (Psalm 39:5-7).
The Hebrew word for „transient“ also means „rejected“, „disapproved“, „fleeting“, „deficient“, „only temporary“, and truly highlights the short-lived and imperfect nature of human beings. It is even compared to steam, which cannot be seen, is barely noticeable, and disappears immediately. Everything that humans produce on their own is also subject to these criteria. Therefore, all glory belongs to the Lord if we produce something good! None of these flawed, fleeting creatures can praise themselves for their achievements. Therefore, pride is completely unnecessary! We should also always remember that we do not live on earth forever and have only a limited time for the things entrusted to us.
„And YHWH Elohim formed the human being from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives, and the human being became a living soul“ (Genesis/Bereshit 2:7).
Man was made from dust, which can also be referred to as „clay“ or „earth“. This is a dirty, worthless substance. But we also read about how man became alive and valuable: through the breath of life that was breathed into him by Elohim. That is the Holy Spirit. It is only this that makes us precious and enables us to produce works that are also valuable and lasting, not from our own strength.
„Wherefore Adonay said: Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men“ (Isaia/Yesha‘yah 29:13).
These verses accurately depict our supposed „worship“ when it is only external and the heart is not involved. It is like the man who is made from the „dust of the ground“ but does not have the „breath of life“. Let us no longer pay attention to the external, the transitory, the „learned human commandments“. From now on, let us rather fear what truly remains and what the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts.
„13 To you now, who says: Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and spend there a year, and trade, and get gain! 14 When you know not what will be tomorrow! For what is your life? It is indeed a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away„ (James/Yaacov 4:13-14).
We set ourselves many goals and make plans. We think we have unlimited time to put these plans into action. Whether it’s about daily life or Elohim’s ideas, we don’t really know ‘what will be tomorrow’: illness? Misfortune? Death?
„And as it is reserved for humans to die once, and after this the judgment…„ (Hebrews 9:27)
The fact that every human being will die is obvious. No one can escape this fact. May the Lord help us to spend our time on earth from now on in such a way that the coming judgment will be a cause of happiness for us and not of regret!