“Oblivion is the rule, and fame the exception, of humanity.” -Antoine de Rivarol

In general, we think that because we are great at the present moment, we will continue to be considered great throughout all time. We are short-sighted, and don’t consider the layers of leveled kingdoms, and forgotten empires that have been washed away by the seas of time. In nearly all instances, no matter how great or noble we think we may be, after our earthly passing, all will pass away and be forgotten, and our earthly memorial will go into oblivion.

And in the Bible, even king Solomon recognized this, and was not ignorant of the futility of his work. Such things weighed heavily upon his mind, and he wrote of his despair when considering such poor prospects:

“For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 2:16-19

But Scripture also teaches of a way that we can be preserved forever—though not for our own glory or fame, but for God’s. For in looking at the ever-changing conditions on planet earth, with its ever-shifting kingdoms and powers, and its bloody revolutions and wars, we can sometimes overlook one thing that is changeless and perfect: God.

Only the One who has created all things, and has existed before the beginning of all things—yea, created the very concept of a beginning, and an end—only the everlasting God can be truly changeless.

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” -Psalm 90:2-4

Yet through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have offered to us everlasting life, salvation, and the privilege to spend eternity with God—the unchangeable One—in heaven with Him. It was for this very purpose that man was created, that we might be a pleasure unto God for all time. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

We need but to relinquish our current life, our selfish ambitions, and lay them at the foot of the cross, and looking with hope and faith unto God, come into the golden glory of a life everlasting, lived forever unto the glory of God.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” -Daniel 12:2-3

• The Folly of Impulsiveness
• Are You Wiser than Silence?
• The Eternal God
• Grit and Glory
• The Foolishness of Rage

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Godly Sayings by Dean