Trees Marked For the Axe

"To fix our confidence upon a dying world is folly. It is as if we were building our nests when the tree is being cut down, or decorating our cabin when the ship is likely to be dashed in pieces or is already sinking." 

Is it a time to drive a trade for ourselves when we are just leaving earth, and hope soon to be in heaven? Yet too many among professors are doing this. Their hearts are set upon their money, they build their nest in the golden grove; or they are wrapt up in their children, and, as it were, nestle down among those who spring up as willows by the watercourses. The axe is laid at the root of all earthly comforts, and, therefore, those who are taught of God soar aloft, and make their eyries on the Rock of Ages. What is our friend doing whose eyes are now scanning the page? Where is your heart? What is its dear delight and joy? Is it of earth? Then be sure that to earth it will return. Is your joy a thing of heaven? Then alone is it stable and sure. My soul, the world is passing away, set not thy love upon it. The ship is sinking, care little about the little luxuries of the berth which thou hast for a while occupied in it. Up and away! This is not thy rest. See, before thine eyes the fashion of this world passeth away; look to eternity and to thy God, for there alone is solid bliss. 

Charles H. Spurgeon 

Flowers From A Puritan's Garden, "Trees Marked for the Axe," p. 73

Keeping an Eternal Perspective

6 MARCH

For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Luke 12:16-21

We know that people who have completed the circle of life are forthwith taken out of the world, yet the knowledge of this frailty fails to make a deep impression on our hearts because we do not lift our eyes above the world. Moses awakens us by showing us the eternal perspective of God, without which we do not perceive how speedily our life vanishes away. 
The imagination that we shall have a long life is like a profound sleep in which we are all benumbed. Only meditating upon the heavenly life can swallow up this foolish fancy respecting the length of our continuance upon earth. To those who are blind to eternity, Moses presents the view of God as Judge. "O Lord!" he seems to say, "If men would only reflect upon that eternity from which Thou beholdest the inconstant circling of the world, they would not make so great an account of the present life."
The reason that unbelievers indulge in pleasures is that they have their hearts too much set upon the world and do not taste the pleasures of a celestial eternity.
Hence we learn the application of this teaching. Why do we have such great anxiety about our life that nothing satisfies us? Do we continually molest ourselves because we foolishly imagine that we shall nestle in this world forever? 
Moses does not only contrast a thousand years with one day; he also contrasts them with yesterday, which is already gone. For whatever is still before our eyes captivates our minds. But we are less affected with the recollection of what is past. So, let us elevate our minds by faith to God's heavenly throne, from which He declares that this earthly life is nothing compared with what is yet to come.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: Maintaining an eternal perspective is difficult. But isn't our failure to do so the reason why we find ourselves falling into worldliness so often? Yesterday is past. WE must keep the next thousand years in perspective.

365 Days With Calvin 
Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Far Off Looks Small

 

"Look, as the stars, those vast globes of light, by reason of its distance between us and them, do seem but as so many spangles; so we have but a weak sight of things which are set at a great distance, and their operation on us is usually but small."

Hence the need of faith, by which things are brought near to us, and made to stand out in their reality. A far-off hell is the dread of no man, and a far-off heaven is scarce desired by any one. God Himself, while thought of as far away, is not feared or reverenced as he should be. If we did but use our thoughts upon the matter we should soon see that a mere span of time divides us from the eternal world, while the Lord our God is nearer to us than our souls are to our bodies. Strange that the brief time which intervenes between us and eternity should appear to the most of men to be so important, while eternity itself they regard as a trifling matter. They use the microscope to magnify the small concerns of time; O that they would use the telescope upon the vast matters of eternity! How differently would they order their lives with judgment felt to be at their doors!

How would they seek to escape from infinite wrath, if they felt it to be nigh!

Lord, arouse me, and all around me, to a due estimate of eternal matters. Enable me to project my soul into the infinite. Break me free of this narrow present, and launch my soul upon the wide and open sea of the ages to come. Thou art in eternity, and let my soul even now dwell with Thee.

Charles H. Spurgeon 

Flowers From A Puritan's Garden, "FAR OFF LOOKS SMALL", pp. 60-61