DEVOTION – DAY 297

Isaiah 40:8 “Only God Endures Forever”

 

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

 

This verse is simple and yet profound. It reminds us that the things of this world are temporary and ultimately worthless because it is not lasting. However, many people including some Christians spend their lives giving priority to the things of this world. Things like position, power, wealth, status, material things and so on. Isaiah used the words “grass” and “flowers” as examples of things of this world. We know that position and power are temporary. People like Joe Biden, the president of USA, or Xi Jin Ping, the Premier of China will one day be replaced by other leaders. They may have power now, but that power will have to be passed on to someone else eventually. Look at the UK. In the last 3 years, the Prime Minister positions have changed hands several times.

 

Wealth, status and material things are also temporary. They do not last. There is a famous saying that a family’s wealth cannot last beyond a few generations. We can see a simple US example in the Vanderbilt family. At one time, they were one of the richest families in the world. That great wealth did not survive beyond the 3rd generation. The same is true for the famous Chinese-Canadian singer Kris Wu who had millions of fans and lucrative endorsement contracts. But his status ended in disgrace as he was jailed for sexual misconduct and all his lucrative endorsements were cancelled.

 

Isaiah reminds us that what ultimately endures is the Word of God – meaning that what matters in our lives is God. The plans of man and nations will never last – only God will remain unchanged and exists forever and ever. Because this is truth, we must consider how we want to live our lives. Do we want to spend our time going after position, power, wealth, status and material things? Or do we want to spend our lives seeking to please and honor God in everything we do?

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship You for You are eternal and unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever. Please help us to always have the right focus in our lives, not to waste it going after the things of this world that fades away. Please help us to live our lives serving and obeying you for that has eternal good and gives you the glory. We ask this in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What is the focus of your life? Do you focus on worldly things or do you focus on obeying and pleasing God?
  2. Why do people choose to focus on worldly things? Discuss.
  3. Why are worldly things so tempting and yet never lasts or satisfies us? Discuss.
  4. What are some ways you can help each other to focus on Godly pursuits that lasts, rather than on worldly pursuits? Share and Discuss.