Sunday 5 December 2021

... perhaps they don't believe in eternity


I look around me at a world in turmoil, confusions, and contradictions. A fast moving, ever changing world where there's no room for planning since plans change as soon as they're being planned.

Yet, despite this fluid kaleidoscope of emotions and fluctuating views and opinions, I see an undercurrent of materialism such as history has probably never experienced before.

Consumerism seems at its highest point ever with people wanting more and more of everything and wanting it now rather than having to wait. 

Gone are the days when an advert would imply that you will feel good if you were to purchase a certain product or avail yourself to a service. Now the message seems to be that unless you have this product or service then you're considered a failure, a lesser being, and a reject. Subliminally perhaps, but the message is still there. You can see it in the eyes of the actors promoting the product they sell.

I feel that hope has gone, or perhaps diminished, in the hearts of many. Our lifespan could be in the region of 70 to 100 years if we are so fortunate. But this is a mere blink of an eye compared to eternity.

Could this be the reason why so many are intent on cramming so much in the little time allotted to them?

Could it be ... perhaps that they don't believe in eternity? For many, the belief is that once we die that is the end of everything?

Reminiscent of the phrase from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

Or, as contradicted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:32, "if the dead are not raised to life, then, as the saying goes, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.' "

The choice is an individual one for each one of us to make.

21 comments:

  1. ...things are a mess today for sure, but much of what is happening has happened before!

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  2. It is sometimes hard to believe 'WHAT YOU BELIEVE'. It is that faith that allows me to KNOW what I do not understand. I think we all at times feel we are walking in the dark, just feeling our way......
    Sherry & jack over here..... Sending thanks for the prayers...

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    1. Very wise, Jack. Praying that you and yours are all OK.

      God bless you and Sherry.

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  3. Tom is correct and so are you. We don't want to learn because we already know the answers, but the answers are wrong and misleading. It's sad, very sad and I'm afraid it will get worse.

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    1. Sadly, people are excluding God from their lives; and replacing Him with materialism. As Tom said, it happened before when they built a golden calf when Moses was leading them out of Egypt.

      God bless, Bill.

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  4. I find it impossible to imagine how non-believers can go about their days with no faith in their final destination. Very sad, yes.

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    1. I believe it is because of lack of education. People are not taught about God; and it is fashionable these days to believe He does not exist. So materialism becomes the norm instead.

      God bless, Mevely.

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  5. Dearest Victor,
    Well, as long as I live I've never been 'side-tracked' by the ever stronger pressure for materialism against the REASON for the SEASON!
    My Dad always told us when together we were preparing the nativity on a bed of moss, that we collected together in the woods, that a tree was against the Christian beliefs.
    In a way he was so right! There it started slowly during my childhood and over the decades, the parcels beneath that tree become the #1 GOAL! People would and still will, go into debt for presenting more and more; beyond their ability.
    People the world over have been brainwashed by the media, tv, social media and on and on.
    No, we both are still old fashioned and adhere to the TRUE REASON of the SEASON and without any tree and gifts!
    We have our treasured hand carved wooden nativity from Italy and that is it.
    People ought to get back on board with the Church! Yes, Christ's Church is like a boat, it can rock, it can make you nauseate at times but it always will get you there! That is our journey to Eternity and nothing else, no false 'commercial' prophets should be able to divert us...
    Hugs and Happy 2nd Advent!
    Mariette

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    1. You are right, Mariette, that people are being influenced by TV and social media. It is fashionable these days to say that people don't believe in God; and to mock those who do.

      Materialism is a way of escapism. People get diverted by all the glitter and fun and lose sight of the true meaning we celebrate.

      God bless always.

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  6. Things in this life are fleeting, and the sooner we realize the permanence of heaven, the better off all of us will be. Great reflection, Victor!
    Blessings!

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    1. You are right, Martha. The world is changing fast, and many people cannot cope with change, especially change they cannot control or adapt to. So they turn to something they think is more permanent - materialism. It's been Christmas over here for at least six weeks. As well as Halloween, Bonfire Night, (5 November), and Black Friday sales.

      God bless always.

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  7. 2 Corinthians 4:18: "while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal".

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    1. Amen.

      So nice to see you visiting here, David. God bless.

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  8. What a sad state this world is in. There sure will be a lot of very surprised people when they die and find out what awaits them. So sad!!

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    1. Yes, it is very sad, Happyone.

      God bless you always.

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  9. If this is all we get, we are a poor, sad lot. No, i'm holding out for eternity, and praying more people will realize how shallow it is to not do so and turn to Jesus.

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    1. I agree, the world is shallow these days, and sad too.

      God bless, Mimi.

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  10. I think many people buy lots of things because they want to enjoy the experience as much as possible before they die, because they know they can't take it with them to enjoy in heaven. Unless heaven has televisions and dvd players? libraries filled with books?

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    1. I think it is deeper than that, River. It's not so much whether there are TVs and DVDs in Heaven; it's more that people do not believe there is a Heaven, or a hell. They ceased to believe because they don't know what to believe. So, as you say, they enjoy the experience now because it is all they know.

      God bless you.

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