“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” —Hebrews 13:14.

Consider how attached people become to their hometowns and places of residence. Many individuals are reluctant to leave the cities where they were born and have lived. This hesitation also extends to the idea of leaving this world for the next.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. —Hebrews 12:3.

What is your life? When I talk to people about life I love to ask them three simple questions. How did you get here? What are you doing here or what is your purpose in life? And lastly, what is your plan when this life is over?

“In Him was life.” Or, “That which has been made was life in him.” —John 1:4

John Newton: “There is one political maxim which comforts me: ‘The Lord reigns.’”

If we are serving God with a lack of joy and gladness in our heart are we actually serving Him? Probably not. We are only serving ourselves and there is no joy and gladness found in self-serving.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. —Ps 90:14–15

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. —2 Co 4:17–18.

Many of us are operating under a peacetime mindset. We are dilly dallying around the things that are hindering us in life. Just players wasting our life. We are all in thrall to things that affect our daily life.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. —Proverbs 21:21

Gladness is yours for the taking.

If you’re not ready to die, then you’re not ready to live.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, —Isaiah 55:10

Truth: moral truth, saving truth, working truth, living truth. It is not simply something to be known; it is something to be done. It is the knowledge and the experience of true reality as opposed to false reality.

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” —Hebrews 13:6