“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Ps. 42:2)
God is eternal. There has never been – and there will never be – a time when God is not, because He is forever “I AM;” the timeless, eternally-existing God.
Man, on the other hand, is mortal. We don’t like to talk about it, but in time the curse of sin takes over… and as a result, we all eventually die. James describes our life here on earth as “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away,” (James 4:14). Even if you beat the odds and live to see 100, your life still resembles “a vapor” when compared to the eternality of God.
But as Hebrews 9:27 clearly states, after death comes judgment. Death marks the end of our life here on earth, but the beginning of our eternity – eternity either with God… or without Him.
Though God’s Word is very clear on this matter of life and death, heaven and hell, we tend to spend the great majority of our short days on earth concerned with temporal matters like how much stuff we can acquire, what status we can attain, how many people we can impress and connect with, and on and on. In addition, we waste inordinate amounts of time worrying about who we’ve disappointed, who doesn’t like us, and who we should steer clear of.
Don’t be mistaken. As long as God allows us breath and life, we should seek to use the gifts He has given us as best we can. We should enjoy the great bounty of temporary, earthly blessings that come our way as we do good to others and bring glory to our God. But at the same time we are admonished by Paul to “set our mind on things above, not on things on the earth,” (Col. 3:2).
The difference is a question of focus. Of passion. Of investment.
What do you long for? Who do you live for? What do you want most out of life? These are the barometers by which we believers must measure not only what we do… but more importantly, why we do it. Wisdom presses us to remember that God will judge our deeds, as well as the thoughts and intents of our hearts. When that day comes, will He find that we foolishly invested for time… or wisely for eternity?
And since God is eternal, those who receive and trust in Christ as Savior in this life will forever dwell in the eternal bliss of His presence in heaven. And those who reject Him will suffer God’s wrath eternally in hell. As Hebrews 10:31 iterates, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living [i.e., eternal] God.”
God’s mercy is extended to you now. But understand that it is appointed to men once to die… and after this, the judgment (Heb. 9:27) – where no mercy exists. If you do not know Him as Savior and Lord, run to Him now before this “vapor” of mortality is gone.
And if you are His child, consider what you focus your attention and energy on. Do you invest time in the here and now adoring God? Do you desire to know Him in a deeper way? Or do you care more about what mortal man thinks of you than what the eternal, living God knows?
Like the Psalmist, may you and I be able to say in earnest, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God,” (Ps. 42:2).
- If I love You Lord, then my desire should be to follow hard after You (Isa. 26.8) and to desire communion with You (Ps. 42:2). Does my soul thirst for You as David’s did? My love for You will be evident by my desire to be in Your presence observing Your ordinances, because they are like glasses where I can see Your resplendent glory. In those ordinances I meet with Christ whom my soul loves.
- In Your Word I find Your smiles and whispers and some foretastes of heaven. I should be much in it.
- If I truly love You Lord, I likewise hate everything that would separate You from me. And because sin causes You to hide Your face from me, I must be dead set against it. Can I honestly say with the psalmist in that “I hate every false way?” (Ps. 119:128)
Further References for Psalm 42:2
Ps. 63:1, 143:6, 27:4; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 26:63; John 7:37
