“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.”
– Job 14:1-2
Main Thought: When we read these words of Job, we are reminded that our physical lives are very brief. Even if we live to 80, 90, or 100 years old, it is a very brief time in respect to history, and especially in regards to eternity. It begs the question, especially as Christians, of what we are spending our time and energies on. When I was a young man, I thought I had all the time in the world to increase in my knowledge of God and to grow in my faith. But now, I look back and see that the time passed very quickly and there is still so much of God’s Word that I do not deeply know, and I am still dissatisfied with the progress of my spiritual growth. Job’s words confirm to me that I should count each day as a gift from God and that the focus of my life should not be on that which is temporal, but that which is eternal. Whatever age we are as Christians, the call of Christ is for us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). We cannot know if we will have tomorrow, but the call for us today and all the days He is pleased to give us is to live our lives for the glory of God. Adam and Eve were created by God and put into the Garden of Eden for a plan and a purpose, not just to sit around and admire the creation. We too as Christians have been saved, not just to sit around and dream about heaven, but we have been saved with a mandate to glorify God by preaching the Gospel, grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, grow in holiness and sanctification, serve and bless others, and carry out the call of the Church, which is to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. May every believer and every Church strive to be a lighthouse on a hill, magnifying Christ until we go to be with Him or until He comes again. Remember that this is our calling, and may God give us strength and endurance to fulfill this calling.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:13
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)