NOTHING IS PERMANENT ON EARTH

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 23, 2022

TOPIC: NOTHING IS PERMANENT ON EARTH

BY T. O. BANSO

“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down’” (Matthew 24:1-2 New King James Version).  

Nothing is permanent on earth; everything is temporary. This earth, as it is, is not permanent. It is temporary. Even, the present heavens are not permanent; they are temporary! The Bible talks of new heavens and a new earth. Isaiah 65:17 says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (New King James Version).

Isaiah 66:22 says, “‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain’” (New King James Version). The apostle Peter also says in 2 Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (New King James Version).

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1 New King James Version).  Every child of God should know that the city he is living in now shall not continue forever, no matter how beautiful it is. Therefore, he should seek the one to come, the city in heaven (Hebrews 13:14). The heavens and the earth shall pass away but God is permanent (Psalm 102:25-27).  

In Matthew 24:1-2, there was a conversation between Jesus and one of His disciples. “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down’” (New King James Version).  

Mark also records this discussion but says it was one of the disciples that called Jesus’ attention to the magnificent buildings of the Temple. Luke probably refers to the spokesperson among the disciples. “Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down’” (Mark 13:1-2 New King James Version).

Luke also presents the discussion without reference to the disciples. “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ‘These things which you see — the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6 New King James Version).

The magnificent Temple in question was Herod’s Temple, which was the pride of the Jewish people. King Herod, an Idumean, began to build the Temple to appease the Jews. The project which lasted many years commenced in 19 BC. Its main building was completed in 9 BC while the entire project was completed in A.D. 64.

The disciples or those who spoke about the Temple must have been shocked by what Jesus said about the stones used to build the Temple. They were immensely large stones. According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, some of the stones were fifty feet long, twenty-four broad, and sixteen in thickness. How could such a magnificent edifice (Temple) crumble? But nothing on earth is permanent. No earthly possession endures forever.

As unbelievable as the prophecy of Jesus in these scriptures might have sounded, it was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans completely destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem. Indeed, nothing is permanent.

Have you bought something new before which you didn’t want anyone to touch? You guarded it jealously. But after a while, you could leave it anywhere and not bother if anyone touched it or not. There are things some people are worrying themselves so much to acquire now but after they’ve succeeded in owning them, they would mean nothing to them later. Things lose their beauty, grandeur, appeal, value, etc. I have seen a building that once looked like a Presidential Villa turn into something else years after the demise of the owner and one of the foremost hotels in a city become abandoned property. It is a miserable thing to live for things.

Nothing on earth is permanent. Some political office holders get carried away by the power and authority of their offices and act as if they will be there forever. Your time here on earth is not permanent; it is temporary. The heroes and the heroines of faith listed in Hebrews 11 all died; they didn’t live forever (verse 13). Their sojourn on earth was temporary. Nothing is permanent here. Your life is passing away, too, like a smoke (Psalm 102:3a). You’re a sojourner and pilgrim on earth (1 Peter 2:11). This world is not your home; it is your temporary abode. Nothing is permanent.

This earth is not permanent; eternity is permanent. Success is not permanent; failure is not permanent. Health is not permanent; sickness is not permanent. Victory is not permanent; defeat is not permanent. Sometimes one is up; another time one could be down. Nobody occupies any office forever. That’s why we have ex-this and ex-that.! There is nothing we have or we’re going through, positive or negative, that is permanent.

Always focus on that which is permanent – eternity. Where will you spend your eternity? Always look at everything through the lens of eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (New King James Version).

Paul says again in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (New King James Version).  Whatever you have or don’t have is temporary. Whether you are married, or not or you have children or not is temporary. Nothing is permanent on earth.

As it is often said, “No condition is permanent.” It is just a matter of time for a present condition to change, either for the better or for worse. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (New King James Version).

Don’t let anything you have or any position you occupy go to your head. Everybody prays for the best, but times do change! Even a good time can become better. Nothing is permanent. Even the Permanent Secretary knows that! Someone may make himself a President for life but he can’t say no to death when it comes. He can manipulate the constitution to continue in power but when death comes, it ends everything. Nothing is permanent in life.

It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  Think about your end. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart” (New King James Version). Give your life to Jesus today. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). Live your life, knowing that you will die one day and you will meet your Maker.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS:  Father, help me to focus on eternity, and not be engrossed in worldly things. I shall live for Jesus and not for things. Father, deliver those who are worshipping the god of materialism; let them see the vanity and give their life to Jesus.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org