Job 7:7 – “Remember that my life is but a breath, that my eyes will never again see happiness.”

Job 14:1 – “Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was challenged.   In the words of Job, life on earth is brief and difficult. (7:7; 14:1).   We are the design of God’s creativity and exist only by His desire.  (10:8-12; 12:10). There is the hope that there is life after death, and that is reason enough to view death longingly. (14:14).

How can we live consistently unless we truly see those things?   How can we embrace them unless we have a right view of God?   How can we have a right view of God unless we experience Him?   Therefore, only as God reveals Himself to us and to the extent He reveals Himself to us can we know Him. It won’t be developed by study or even by praying.  It comes by a personal encounter.

Once we have experienced God, we can trust Him. Once we have surrendered our all to Him, we can believe His promises.   Once we believe His promises, we can live in the freedom of faith.  We develop eyes of the heart that see into the kingdom realm and extract the provision, bringing it into the present reality.

In Mark 10:23-27, we have the account of the rich man seeking eternal life. He had become accustomed to trusting his riches to purchase whatever he desired.  That mindset was the overriding mindset in pursuing Eternal Life. What must I do?  Jesus had just taught that one cannot earn Eternal Life; it can only be received.

What holds our heart controls our destiny.  The fluff of stuff snuffed out his hope of Eternal Life.   Mark 12:41-44 provides deep insight into entrance and residence in the Kingdom of God.  Token giving produces token presence!  Total giving opens the door to Eternal Life!  If we make this about money, we miss the point.   The Widow gave Everything!   What do we give?

Again, don’t let your mind focus on money.   God has no part-time or partial Christians.   That would be like saying, “I’m a little bit pregnant.”   God does not accept anything but everything! Anything less than everything is nothing!

Our hope is anchored in our complete trust!  What do we trust?  Do we trust enough to die? Total surrender – Total!

Lord, help us to trust You enough to give You Everything!