For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away." ― James 4:14
What does it matter whether I dwell in a palace or a prison, since it is but for a day, an hour, a moment! What disappointment should grieve me in time if I shall possess God for eternity?
I look around me, and see multitudes eager on the chase, keen in the pursuit of created vanities, forgetful that this world is passing away. I look forward to the invisible world, and see multitudes in their eternal state, astonished at the stupidity of men ― that the trifles of time should preponderate so much with them. I also find myself in the deluded throng of triflers, and condemn my own vain conduct.
A hundred years ago, the earth was filled with inhabitants, who are now in eternity. They then straggled along the road of human life with care and concern, with burdens and bitterness, but now are forever at their journey's end.
I am now traveling the thorny path, and shall also shortly arrive at my eternal home. The interim is so short, that nothing that can befall me should either give much pain or pleasure. I am on the wing to the celestial paradise, and no blasts in my face shall hinder my flight to the city of God!
The brevity of time may be bitter to the sinner, because torment and eternity seize him in the same moment! But it must afford me joy, for the shorter my time, the nearer to my endless felicity! All the complicated afflictions of time must disappear when time is no more. Why, then, take deep concern, or heavy sorrow; or much joy, or lasting delight, at the ill or good of the few flying moments on our journey to eternity? My soul is immortal, and God is eternal.
Therefore in God below, and in God above, in God in time, and in God in eternity, shall my soul find boundless pleasures and unfading bliss!
― James Meikle
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are
not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are
eternal." ― 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
