Here’s the thing…
One of the privileges of being a pastor is also the toughest: funerals. I have preached more than a few funeral sermons during my ministry. I have preached the funerals of those I never knew and also those I knew very well. I have preached at the funerals of my own family, such as the funeral of my grandfather and my nephew, and likely the hardest of them all, I preached at the funeral of my twin sister at the young age of 24. But one thing I’ve said in most funeral sermons preached is the one statement that seems to offend or shock but is not meant to accomplish either. I look at the people in the funeral home, church, or wherever the service is taking place and say: There is a 100% chance everyone in this place will die. By the way, this should not be brand-new information to anyone.
In a world marked by constant busyness and distractions, it’s easy to lose sight of the brevity of our time on earth. And I can readily attest that the longer I live, the faster time passes. As followers of Christ, we are called to live with purpose, with an intrinsic spiritual urgency, making the most of every opportunity to glorify God and share the love of Jesus. Let’s explore the biblical perspective on brevity and how we can embrace it to fulfill our divine purpose.
Brevity: shortness of duration[1]
The Fleeting Nature of Life
Hank Williams wrote a song called I’ll never get out of this world alive. One doesn’t have to search for the irony, considering the talented and prolific songwriter died in the backseat of a car in 1953 on New Year’s Day en route to his next concert in Canton, Ohio; he was only 29 years old. Scripture reminds us that our time on earth is but a fleeting moment compared to the eternity that awaits us. As the Psalmist reflects, “Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am” (Psalm 39:4, CSB). This cognizance is not meant to instill fear but to inspire wisdom, urging us to prioritize the things of eternal significance. Hint: Eternal significance is not found on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, or ESPN. Contrary to what you’ll hear from plastic pastors wearing swanky suits worth more than a family of four’s average yearly grocery bill, this side of Glory was never intended to be “Your Best Life Now.”
The Urgency of the Gospel
Jesus, during His earthly ministry, emphasized the urgency of repentance and faith in Him. In Mark 1:15 (CSB), He declares, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Recognizing the brevity of life should propel us to share the life-transforming message of the Gospel with those around us, knowing that every soul is precious in the eyes of God; did you read that? Every soul. God doesn’t view people the way we do. Humanity is flawed, fallen, and we have eaten a fatal dose of the forbidden fruit. Shame on you, Christian, if you don’t realize every soul, every single person, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, skin tone, resident status, orientation, or pronoun set, is someone Jesus died to save.
Once we arbitrarily decide who God does and doesn’t love, we’ve hamstrung the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember that Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.”[2] And did Jesus eat with the wealthy, religious leaders fastidious about their appearance while reciting the Hebrew Scriptures, arrogance encapsulating each and every word? Absolutely not! Instead, Jesus ate with the prostitutes and tax collectors; -sinners! -Jesus ate with sinners![3] I, for one, am glad no one chooses the recipients of God’s love. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be chosen (and friend, neither would you!).
Redeeming the Time
In Ephesians 5:15-16 (CSB), the apostle Paul encourages believers to “pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” We are all guilty of poor time management (some more than others). There are only so many hours in the day, and we can do nothing to add more hours. Brevity is a call to intentional living, using our time, talents, and resources for God’s glory, not our own. We are called to be purposeful and persistent in our relationships, stewardship, and service, understanding that our actions echo into eternity. Don’t forget that our good works and righteousness do not save us; we do good works because we are saved, and Jesus takes care of the righteousness part.
Investing in Eternal Treasures
Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:19-20 (CSB), “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.” Embracing brevity means redirecting our focus from temporal pursuits to eternal investments that have lasting value in God’s kingdom.
Collecting has been a timeless human endeavor, reflecting the innate desire to gather and preserve objects of significance. Today, like in past generations, people collect all sorts of things. From coins and comic books to sports memorabilia and everything in between, there’s no limit to what will one day be valuable, and that is why collecting is not going away. But what happens when the collector dies? All too often, one person’s treasure becomes another person’s trash. Instead of investing in temporal things of the world, why not eternally invest in things of worth?
Living with an Eternal Perspective
Colossians 3:1-2 (CSB) reminds us, “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” A life lived with an eternal perspective is a life infused with purpose and meaning. The irony of the ages is even the agnostics and die-hard atheists seek a life of purpose and meaning. Living with eternal perspective allows us to navigate the brevity of our time on earth with hope and confidence in the promise of everlasting life with Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live in light of eternity, embracing the transience of life as a reminder of our divine purpose. Let us be intentional in making every moment count, sharing the love of Christ, and investing in eternal treasures. May we heed the wisdom of Scripture and, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, live lives that honor God and leave a lasting impact on those around us.
[1] Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “brevity,” accessed December 6, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brevity.
[2] Luke 19:10 (CSB)
[3] Mark 2:17 (CSB) And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Pastor Bob 
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