We are moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
-Psalm 39:6
Everyone woke up with great astonishment. I can hear many heartbeats throbbing around with heavyweights of anxieties. The world is full of uncertainties. A clandestine shadow covers all of us and no one is exempted.
In a few months, countries are a war, suicidal issues become a norm, volcanic eruptions destroyed lands, and now an incurable disease.
I began to question myself what does matter in life?
Most countries were hit by this virus. People were warned to stay at home and stop communicating with other human beings. Schools, churches, parks, and tourist destinations are all closed. Hospitals are widely open to accommodate everyone who is in dire need.
This is the first week of a quarantined life, yet days are coming. No one knows what tomorrow brings. Living in a third-world country, I am still blessed to have a home, a complete family, and food in my stomach. But I couldn’t deny that some of my countrymen are living with nothing, even a lil’ hope. I am thinking of those elderly who don’t have a home or children to lean upon, those desperate children who live in the streets, and those who suffered from mental disease, experiencing numbness in life.
The clock moves in slow motion.
Everyone stays at home and mumbles in prayer.
I was looking at the sky, listening to the songs of the birds, to the hymns of the wind, while the rays of the sun were penetrating my face. I closed my eyes and realization sank in.
I am living in this world for almost two decades, and these scenarios are remarkable. This made me realize to ask myself, “what does matter in life?
Thoughts go around in my head.
Family, dreams, success?
I accept the fact that these past few months, I am quite afraid of my future. I am afraid that if I didn’t do all my to-do lists, all my plans, and my dreams, I will not succeed in life. I was seeking my selfish ambitions. I wanted to be more.
Yet the Lord checked my heart.
The Lord reminded me of these verses:
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self.” Luke 9:25
“Any of you who does not give up everything, he cannot be a disciple” Luke 14:33
I remember in the book I am now reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. It says there “We have only our two-fifths of a second long scene to live. I don’t know about you, but I want my two-fifths second to be about my making much of God. The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His. It is His movie, His world, His gift.”
Not my wants or desires.
And these lines hit my soul.
Am I a faithful servant?
Do I give to my Maker my whole life?
And I was embarrassed, I wasn’t giving my all.
There were times that I complained about life, my tasks, the people around me, my overload schedules, and other things that I thought were barricades in my joyful life.
And realized, that life isn’t about me or yourself, it is about God.
Life is about the love of God. It is about The everlasting love that He gave His only begotten son “Jesus Christ” so whosoever believes Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Free from the slavery and bondage of sin.
What a huge gift!
I forgot these promises.
But now, my life purpose is clear.
I am nothing without God. Our earth's life is just a split of seconds. Heaven is our home.
If I could turn back my time I should’ve given my all. I shouldn’t be tired of serving Him. I shouldn’t seek earthly pleasures. Nothing is more important than our relationship with the Lord.
The Lord is giving us time to pause, to reflect, and to know that He is above all things. Just like what Job says “ In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10
We are moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. (Psalm 39:6)
I know that the Lord is restoring something in each one of us. He is renewing our faith. He is extending His love and mercy. He loves me, and He loves you. I believe that in this suffering He still delivers grace.
His promises are true. Be still.
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
And maybe this is our wake-up call from above. He wants us to be still, to pause for a moment, inhale His grace, look at the sky, sit on the grass, watch the birds, enjoy the gift of family, help one another, be united as nations, humble ourselves, honor and seek Him.
We can’t extend our life span, when our time comes we can’t say “just a minute.”So before the world vanishes let’s make sure that we’re living for Christ's sake.
A life that honors God.
No turning back.
Now, what does matter in the end?
Not my dreams, not my plans, not my career, not my dream relationship, but my relationship with the Lord matters most.
Less of me and more of my Savior.
Praying for the complete restoration of our land.
