One of the sobering realities of life is that everything changes. People change. Seasons come and go. And almost nothing in this world lasts.
Trophies rust. Degrees collect dust. The things we once prized get passed down or replaced. By the time you get the newest iPhone, there’s already talk of the next one. You finally buy the Jordans you’ve wanted—then a newer version drops. Even that new SUV you drove off the lot? There’s already a “better” model on the way.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon looks at life “under the sun” and calls it “vanity”—like chasing the wind (see Ecclesiastes 1:2–11). If all we live for is temporary, it’s hard not to feel the weight of it.
But here’s the hope: there is a way to make a temporary life deeply meaningful.
Invite the eternal God into it.
Jesus is not like everything else that fades. Scripture says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). When the world shifts, Jesus remains. When we stumble, He doesn’t abandon us. By grace, He does the opposite—He lifts us up, restores us, and calls us forward.
Acts 19 gives us a vivid picture. In Ephesus, people worshiped the goddess Artemis, convinced her glory would last forever. When Paul preached the gospel, the city erupted: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28). They believed their god and their temple were untouchable.
But today, you can visit the site and see what time has done. What was once celebrated as magnificent (one of the seven wonders of the world) is now mostly ruins—proof that man-made gods can’t save, and they don’t last.
Only Christ lasts.
Missionary C.T. Studd captured it well: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
So don’t give your deepest devotion to what can’t hold it. Don’t build your life on sand, rather on what is eternal. God is still on the throne. Jesus is still changing lives. His Word still stands.
When everything feels shaky, remember: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). That’s why Jesus can still say—right now—“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
