Chapter XXI · Practical Religion — J. C. Ryle
The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. “—2 Cor. iv. 18.
” The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. “—2 Cor. iv. 18.
A subject stands out on the face of this text which is one of the most solemn and heart-searching in the Bible. That subject is eternity.1
The subject is one of which the wisest man can only take in a little. We have no eyes to see it fully, no line to fathom it, no mind to grasp it; and yet we must not refuse to consider it. There are star-depths in the heavens above us, which the most powerful telescope cannot pierce; yet it is well to look into them and learn something, if we[Pg 473] cannot learn everything. There are heights and depths about the subject of eternity which mortal man can never comprehend; but God has spoken of it, and we have no right to turn away from it altogether.
The subject is one which we must never approach without the Bible in our hands. The moment we depart from “God’s Word written,” in considering eternity and the future state of man, we are likely to fall into error. In examining points like these we have nothing to do with preconceived notions as to what is God’s character, and what we think God ought to be, or ought to do with man after death.2 We have only to find out what is written. What saith the Scripture? What saith the Lord? It is wild work to tell us that we ought to have “noble thoughts about God,” independent of, and over and above, Scripture. Natural religion soon comes to a standstill here. The noblest thoughts about God which we have a right to hold are the thoughts which He has been pleased to reveal to us in His “written Word.”
I ask the attention of all into whose hands this paper may fall, while I offer a few suggestive thoughts about eternity. As a mortal man I feel deeply my own insufficiency to handle this subject. But I pray that God the Holy Ghost, whose strength is made perfect in weakness, may bless the words I speak, and make them seeds of eternal life in many minds.
I. The first thought which I commend to the attention of my readers is this:— We live in a world where all things are temporal and passing away.
That man must be blind indeed who cannot realize[Pg 474] this. Everything around us is decaying, dying, and coming to an end. There is a sense no doubt in which “matter” is eternal. Once created, it will never entirely perish. But in a popular practical sense, there is nothing undying about us except our souls. No wonder the poet says:—
“Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou that changest not, abide with me!”
We are all going, going, going, whether high or low, gentle or simple, rich or poor, old or young. We are all going, and shall soon be gone.
Beauty is only temporal. Sarah was once the fairest of women, and the admiration of the Court of Egypt; yet a day came when even Abraham, her husband, said, “Let me bury my dead out of my sight.” (Gen. xxiii. 4.)—Strength of body is only temporal. David was once a mighty man of valour, the slayer of the lion and the bear, and the champion of Israel against Goliath; yet a day came when even David had to be nursed and ministered to in his old age like a child.—Wisdom and power of brain are only temporal. Solomon was once a prodigy of knowledge, and all the kings of the earth came to hear his wisdom; yet even Solomon in his latter days played the fool exceedingly, and allowed his wives to “turn away his heart.” (1 Kings xi. 2.)
Humbling and painful as these truths may sound, it is good for us all to realize them and lay them to heart. The houses we live in, the homes we love, the riches we accumulate, the professions we follow, the plans we form, the relations we enter into,—they are only for a time. “The things seen are temporal.” “The fashion of this world passeth away.” (1 Cor. vii. 31.)
The thought is one which ought to rouse every one who is living only for this world. If his conscience is not utterly seared, it should stir in him great searchings of heart. Oh, take care what you are doing! Awake to see[Pg 475] things in their true light before it be too late. The things you live for now are all temporal and passing away. The pleasures, the amusements, the recreations, merry-makings, the profits, the earthly callings, which now absorb all your heart and drink up all your mind, will soon be over. They are poor ephemeral things which cannot last. Oh, love them not too well; grasp them not too tightly; make them not your idols! You cannot keep them, and you must leave them. Seek first the kingdom of God, and then everything else shall be added to you. “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” Oh, you that love the world, be wise in time! Never, never forget that it is written, “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (Col. iii. 2; 1 John ii. 17.)