The Reality Of Life & Death
We’re born into a world where things are not always certain, and as we go through life, we can’t ignore the fact that someday we’ll die. This blog post talks about what we can learn from Jonathan Edwards, an important Christian thinker from America, about how short life is and why it’s important to live it well for God.
Jonathan Edwards was born in 1703, and he was a big deal in American Christianity. When we look at his life story, we see that he always thought about life and death. From when he was a kid to when he passed away, Edwards always knew that life is short and death is something we can’t avoid.
Edwards didn’t get sad about this fact; instead, it inspired him to live a life full of meaning and love for God. His writings and talks show that he understood how brief his time on Earth was. Even though life is short, Edwards felt a strong need to make every moment count, love God with all his heart, and live in a way that showed how great God is.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament confronts the reality of life and its purpose. The Qoheleth, or “teacher,” who wrote these words, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind,” understood the uselessness of a life pursuing empty indulgences. Edwards took this advice seriously. He believed that a life spent only chasing temporary pleasures was a waste. Instead, he saw life’s shortness as a reason to live for things that last forever. Understanding how short life is can help us live in a way that brings glory to God.
Thinking about Edwards’ life challenges us to ask ourselves important questions. How often do we think about how short our lives are? Are we living with a purpose that goes beyond just enjoying ourselves? Knowing that life doesn’t last forever shouldn’t make us scared, but it should motivate us to do things that matter.
In today’s world, where there are so many things trying to grab our attention, Edwards’ message still makes sense. Life is short, and we can’t avoid death. But instead of being afraid, we can see it as a chance to change for the better. Let’s be like Edwards and understand that knowing about life’s shortness should push us to live in a way that makes God happy. Even when life is uncertain, let’s focus on what matters, live each day with a purpose, and see the shortness of life as a gift that encourages us to live fully for God’s glory.