Life is a Temporary Assignment
The Purpose
Driven Life
Part V
Sermon by Manfred Schreyer
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Psa 39:4 "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let
me know how fleeting is my life.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
Last week we heard how brief our life is and how James describes life as a
mist.
Life in fact is very brief, it is extremely brief. And besides that life
is brief, life is on earth is only temporary. You and I will not be here
very long, so let us not get too attached.
King David prayed: Lord help me to realize how brief my time on earth is.
Help me to understand that I am here but for a moment more.
The bible speaks of us as pilgrims, foreigner, strangers,
In 1975, I was given the opportunity by my high school in Germany to come
to the USA as an exchange student for one year. As I attended the meetings
with others who would come over here to the US, we were told over and over
to be ambassadors of Germany.
Those who were selected, were selected because the school saw some good
quality in them, and they had faith in us that we would be able to represent
Germany well.
The exchange year was meant to bring cultures closer, to help each other
understand.
As I left Germany, and as my Mom had tears in her eyes, I remember her
last words: I will see you soon, and please dont ever leave again. . .you
belong to me and we are family.
One year did seem extreme to me as well, but I was looking forward to
meeting new people, to experience life differently, not to be bound by my
Mom. . ., etc.
I was assigned to a great family. The family farmed in Indiana, I had
never farmed in my life, but I enjoyed it tremendously. I enjoyed hard work,
I met new friends, I learned new things. . .the year was wonderful. . .
Each letter I received from my mom was filled with tears. My father had
died and she felt lonely. But I also knew that she did not wanted me to know
too much how she felt, because she did not want me to worry.
As the year came to an end, I had fallen in love with the USA. It was
clear to me that I would return one day and grab the opportunities that this
country had to offer.
My mom was overjoyed to see me back home. . .but my love for this country
never ended.
You know the rest of the story: I decided to immigrate into the USA in
1984. I was 27, and never regretted my immigration. Except that I
disappointed my Mom. . .who is until this day sad that I moved away.
She always asked: What possibly attracts you so deeply to the USA? And my
answers was always the same: I can live as I wish, I be who I am and I can
dance as I can dance.
Do I get homesick?. . of course I do. I miss German poems, I miss my
heritage, the history and the friends and family I left behind.
Well, imagine you were created to live in a foreign country . . .just like
God placed you here on earth. And now imagine that you fell in love with the
earth, even though God told you that this is not your home. Imagine you
forget where your real home is: With all the mesmerizing things this earth
has to offer.
But then there is the footprint of God with in us:
God places in every person the moments of discontent, and dissatisfaction
of life.
Remember we talked earlier this year about how God places death in our
life as a reminder that all of this will come to an end.
And he also places the feeling of unhappiness in our life.
Why?
Because God is sending us a reminder that this life is NOT it. It is NOT
the final destiny.
Have you every recognized how people who have everything on earth, who
have experienced extreme success in their life, who have a happy family, who
have no worries about money. . .often fall deep. The reason they fall so
deep is because they have fallen in love with life. They have disconnected
from the knowledge that life is not created to acquire, to make, to posses
and to show off.
I assure you that it is a fatal mistake to preach prosperity to the people
of God, or to preach about worldly success.
Abundant life has NOTHING to do with Abundant success on earth.
The Apostle Paul was faithful, and he ended up in prison. John the Baptist
was so very faithful, but he was beheaded. Many of the disciples died a
horrible death like Peter, who was crucified upside down from a Roman cross,
because he did not want to die like Jesus.
Many have lost everything in this life. . .they have come to the end of
life with nothing to show for.
And here it comes: You know, God will not reward you for being the best
athlete in this world, the most competent manager, the best stockbroker. . .
.
No, God will reward those in this life who have treated this life as a
temporary assignment and who are awaiting their promised rewards in heaven:
(Heb 11:13 NIV) All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed
them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers
on earth.
(Heb 11:16 NIV) Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly
one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has
prepared a city for them.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to shout out just two seconds before we
die: What was I thinking, why did I place so much importance on this life
and not on my eternal home. . .
When Life is done and God is calling us, He often gives us no warning.
Life is just that . . .a temporary assignment.
Sometimes you and I get overwhelmed with life. I get overwhelmed with the
ministry. I sometimes wonder, I sometimes pray to God to let me know more,
to show me an easier way. . .to be closer to me. . . .and I know you do the
same.
Sometimes we become tired and some of us even believe that we may not make
it , because we are filled with doubt and wonder if this is all worth it.
God is telling you this: My dear children you are not home yet. . .you
are on your way. Listen to my Word, follow my will, live a life in the image
of my son.
Believe the only one who loves you as you are. Have faith in my love for
you and follow my steps into eternal life;
And so let our answer be this:
(2 Cor 4:18 NIV) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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