Psalm 144:3-4

"Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

Man is like a breath;

His days are like a passing shadow."

What a contrast between the eternality of God, who always was, who always is, and who always shall be, to temporal, mortal man who is but like a breath, a passing shadow. None can match His existence.

When I was younger I knew death was real, but rarely bothered to consider its reality in my life. I suppose that's true for most children. It's almost as if I viewed myself as immortal. However age has a way of refining my focus on the road ahead, and I see all too well now that while it leads to my final destination I will one day run out of petrol to get me there. The celestial city is visible on the horizon; its tall and glistening towers and lights casting illumination on everything they touch are peaking just over the plain. But the distance is still far, far off. My Jesus has been constructing these palaces for a long, long time; and when they're completed He will call all home to reside there forever. I will then see what He has seen for eternity past. But I press on and along this trek, my eyes fixed straight ahead, knowing that when I do breath my last that He will carry me to His paradise.

God's eternal nature gives me great comfort. And the fact that I've been known before the beginning of time as I know it brings a peace that few things ever could. (cf. Psalm 139:16) The reality that I am a breath, a passing shadow does not trouble me when put against the backdrop of a God who was, is and always shall be. This is a good word. What should trouble me today (or motivate me today) is that I have such a short amount of time while the sun shines to do what I was created to do. I cannot afford to waste one second of it.