Life is brief, eternity is real, and only what matters to Jesus endures—so trust Him, pursue what lasts, and live with eternal perspective.
Some moments halt us midstride. A chair sits empty at the table, the voicemail no longer arrives, a laugh once loud has grown quiet. Or maybe it’s the ordinary that gets our attention—the steam on the mirror that fades as fast as it forms, the birthday candles that seem to spin faster around the cake each year. Life can feel like a breath on a winter window: there, then gone. We run errands, keep appointments, hold babies, and bury friends. Our hearts know there’s more, even as our calendars insist there’s less.
Into this ache, Jesus speaks. He meets us in hospital corridors and at kitchen sinks. He shows up at weddings and at graves, with a voice so steady it calms storms and a love so strong it conquers cemeteries. He does not shrug at our sorrows. He steps into them. He does not ignore our questions. He invites them. And He says, with authority and tenderness, that death does not get the final word.
Francis Chan once said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” (Francis Chan) Isn’t that clarifying? It puts steel in the spine and softness in the soul. It makes us ask, What truly matters when time feels thin? What holds when the headlines shout and the clock won’t slow? What can carry a broken heart and guide a busy one?
Friend, that is why we open our Bibles today. Not for theory, but for truth that steadies trembling hands. Not for clichés, but for promises that have outlived empires and outlasted obituaries. Here is our Scripture reading for today:
Matthew 25:46 (NKJV): And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
James 4:14 (NKJV): whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
John 11:25-26 (NKJV): Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you hear the heartbeat of heaven in those words? Life is brief—like a vapor. Eternity is real—everlasting life and everlasting punishment stand before every soul. And in the middle of the ache stands Jesus, the resurrection and the life, calling us by name, asking us the most merciful, meaningful question we will ever answer: “Do you believe this?”
So take a breath. Let the noise quiet for a moment. Let grace do what grace does best—steady you. The Lord is near. He understands your fears, your fatigue, your questions. He knows the headlines that scream and the memories that sting. And He still speaks life. He still ushers hope into hospital rooms and living rooms. He still turns tears into seeds of trust.
Today, with humble hearts and open hands, we will face the brevity of life with honesty, look to Jesus with confidence, and walk in righteousness with courage. Not with clenched teeth, but with lifted chins. Not with grim grit, but with grace-filled gratitude. Because the One who conquered the grave is here, and His words don’t wobble. He is the resurrection and the life. He knows the way through this world and into the next, and He intends to walk with you every step.
Let’s pray.
Opening Prayer: Father, we come to You with hearts that feel the weight of time and the wonder of eternity. Thank You for sending Jesus, the resurrection and the life. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see what matters, soften our hearts to receive Your word, and strengthen our wills to walk in righteousness. Comfort those who grieve, steady those who fear, awaken faith in those who feel numb, and kindle a fresh love for Jesus in us all. Speak clearly. Meet us kindly. Lead us wisely. And as we listen, let eternal hope settle in our souls. In the strong and saving name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Time moves. The clock on the wall keeps ticking. Coffee cools. Sunlight shifts across the floor. We feel it. We try to hold a day still and it slips through our fingers. This is not meant to scare us. It is meant to wake us.
James says it straight: you do not know what will happen tomorrow, for your life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes. A mist on a cold morning looks thick for a moment. Then it thins out and is gone. That picture helps us think with clear heads. It teaches humility. It teaches us to plan with an open hand. It nudges us to say, Lord willing, when we speak about next week. It calls us to act today on what we keep putting off. Make the call. Say the hard sorry. Say the needed thank you. Ask for help. Give help. A vapor does not have room for pride or delay. A vapor has room for trust.
This is also a call to honest limits. We love to feel in control. We stack our calendars and make our lists. James reminds us that control has a small fence. We do not know tomorrow. We know the One who does. That is where rest starts. That is where wise choices begin. Hold time as a gift. Hold people as gifts. Hold God’s word like a map in your hand.
Jesus speaks about what comes next with clear words. He says there is everlasting punishment and eternal life. That is not a footnote. That is a horizon that never ends. Everlasting means it does not run out. It does not fade. It does not weaken with age. This is why our choices matter. This is why the state of the heart matters. Jesus speaks as a judge who is also a shepherd. He knows every deed. He knows every motive. He knows what love looks like when it gives a cup of water and when it opens a door and when it forgives an enemy.
The word righteous in that verse is not a cold word. It is warm. It is about a life aligned with God. It is a life reshaped by grace. In Matthew 25 the people who are welcomed are people whose faith shows up in action. They feed the hungry. They visit the sick. They care for the overlooked. That does not earn them a place. It shows they belong. It shows they know the King. Eternal life is not just long life. It is God’s life shared with us. It is life that starts now and continues without end.
At a graveside Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He did not offer a theory. He gave Himself. He spoke those words before He called a dead man out of a tomb. He has power over death. He has power to give life that no disease can steal. He says, whoever believes in Me will live even after dying, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. This is a promise with a name on it. His name.
That promise speaks into the ache we carry. It meets our fear of endings. It tells us death is an enemy He can defeat. It tells us the grave does not own the last page. Belief is not a trick of the mind. It is trust in a Person. It is opening your hands and receiving Him. It is saying, Jesus, You are enough for my past, my present, and my forever.
He also asks a question. Do you believe this. That question is kind. It is also clear. It does not ask if we have all the answers. It asks if we will place our weight on Him. This is not only about the day we die. It is about the day we live. Today. He becomes our life now. He fills our lungs with courage. He steadies our steps. He puts hope in our mouth.
So we think about our days with new eyes. If life is short and eternity is real, we do not waste the light we have. We choose obedience in the small things. We seek first His kingdom in our work and in our homes. We ask what love looks like in our street and in our church and in our online words. We care for the least without looking for applause. We give without keeping a score. We forgive before we feel ready and ask God to help our hearts catch up.
This also reshapes how we hold pain. We do not pretend. We bring it to Jesus. We ask for comfort and for endurance. We ask for wisdom when we are tired. We keep walking with the people God has given us. We keep showing up to worship and prayer. We keep our Bibles open. We keep our ears open to the Spirit. Hope is not a mood. Hope is a Person present with us.
Urgency grows in a healthy way. Not panic. Not hurry. A steady fire. We make room for repentance today. We bring sin into the light today. We start new habits today. We teach our kids today. We speak the gospel to a friend today. Small steps are holy when they aim at Jesus.
And if you are unsure where you stand, talk to Him now. Use simple words. Tell Him you need mercy. Tell Him you believe He died and rose. Tell Him you want His life in you. Ask Him to lead you. Then take a next step of obedience. Be baptized if you have not. Share your faith with a trusted friend. Join with a church family. Place your time, your gifts, and your money under His rule.
Eternity is long. Life is brief. Christ is strong. His words hold. His hands hold. His promise holds.
When the ache sits heavy, attention turns to the voice that met Martha in Bethany ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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