Lately, I’ve been helping our son Isaac with some Shakespeare readings. Although he’s not a fan, it’s part of his homeschool schedule this year so.... 😊
Life's Fleeting Nature
Currently, he’s reading The Tempest by William Shakespeare and studying the line, “We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” This line, spoken by Prospero in Act IV, compares his magical illusions that “melted into air, into thin air,” to the transient nature of our lives.
Prospero is saying that life is an illusion and a fleeting one. Eventually, everything that one knows will fade away like a dream; like wisps of dust that are here one moment and then blown away the next. This resonates with the biblical perspective that we come from dust and to dust, our bodies will return, encouraging us to put value and focus into what and who matters during our time here.
Prioritising Eternal Significance
To live is to choose, so, what will you spend your life on? How will you find that which has lasting significance? To choose well, you must seek to know who you are, what you stand for, where you want to go, and why you want to get there.
Jesus, the greatest leader the world has ever known, taught us to focus our lives on pursuits and relationships that will have a lasting impact. To seek Him and His way of doing things (Matthew 6:33) He taught, that earthly possessions will gather dust, and moths and time will erase them, but God and His Word remain, therefore make eternal things a priority.
The television shows we watch, the latest news on social media—these won’t last. All our knowledge and wealth won’t last. Getting our name in the history books doesn’t even matter if we fail to get our name in Heaven’s book.
The only things that ultimately matter are those that have eternal significance. Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). He taught us to “Seek first the kingdom of God. Then all the other things the world says are important will be added to us as well” (Matthew 6:33)
Seeking Jesus First And Discovering and Living Your Purpose
In light of this thought, I encourage you to seek Jesus first and foremost; ask Him what He is doing today and how you can be part of that. You’ll find that as you do, everything else will make sense. Your relationships will be richer and the right ones for you, and what you spend your days doing will start to be more purposeful and fulfilling
Making Jesus a priority simply means giving Him your time and attention. You can easily determine what your priorities are by how much time you spend with someone or something.
Each person has a God-given purpose, talent, gifts, and abilities. Take a breath, have courage, and honestly seek Jesus.
Examine your life and seek Jesus. As you do you will discover him more deeply and in doing so who you are and your purpose. Then begin to fulfil that purpose and live it every day.
“Therefore, see that you walk carefully [living life with honour, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognising and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 AMP).
One day your life will pass before your eyes, so make it worth watching, and start believing for more meaningful days, that have lasting significance.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to measure my days and to live a life filled with meaning and purpose. I ask for wisdom to prioritise what is important, rather than what looks urgent, and for you to be first on my schedule each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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