Isaiah 51:4-6 - "Give attention to Me, My people, and give ear to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and I will set My justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, My salvation has gone out, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for Me, and for My arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed."

I got some old family pictures from my Dad in the mail today, from the early 1980s. I couldn't help laughing at some of the clothes they showed me wearing! To the best of my knowledge, none of those clothes are still around today; clothing wears out and has to be replaced, even favorite pieces. And that can be sad, if the piece we're having to replace is one we love.

We realize that clothes are temporary—but we don't usually think of heaven and earth this way, too. And yet that is what God says—that creation in its current form is passing away; "the heavens vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment." It will do us no good if our hearts are bound up in anything in the current world order; sooner or later it will be gone.

What then can we trust? What will last forever? What is safe for us to set our hearts on? God tells us: "My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed." Jesus Himself is our righteousness and our salvation, and He will never leave us or abandon us; if we love Him, we will have the One we love forever. Death cannot take Him, for He has already suffered and died in order to make us clean, forgiven, beloved children of God; and He has risen from the dead, never to die again. Because Jesus lives, we too will live forever; and we will live with Him and one another in joy when the present heavens and earth are a memory, pictures from the past.

So what can we love that will last forever? God Himself, who loved us first; and God's people, to whom He has given eternal life. For when Jesus holds us in His hands, we can never be lost from Him or one another.

WE PRAY: Lord, set my heart on You forever, and help me when I grieve for what is passing away. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is it a bad thing to love things you know are temporary? Why or why not?

2. How do you handle grief when something you love passes away?

3. How does God's everlastingness comfort you?

Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 11-13    1 Timothy 6

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