Nothing Lasts Forever

For those of you who remember the music of the 80’s, there was a California-based group called “Oingo Boingo.”  I saw them many times in concert, especially around Halloween since, if you know their music, tends to have a kind of Halloween vibe.  There was one song I particularly liked called, “No One Lives Forever.”  Now, I’m not a morbid guy or anything, but the song had a good beat and energy.  But as time went on, the group shortened their name to “Boingo” and then eventually disbanded.  I still have my T-shirt from their Farewell Tour which I went to on, you guessed it, Halloween.  Now, the band leader, Danny Elfman, does mostly soundtracks for movies.  His orchestral music has a distinctive style which anyone who is an Oingo Boingo fan can identify with.  Just listen to “Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Simpsons,” or “Nightmare Before Christmas” and you’ll see what I mean.

So yeah, just like one of my favorite bands from the 80’s, nothing lasts forever.  I’m reminded of that whenever I buy a Ben and Jerry’s “Phish Food” pint of ice cream which is usually gone in less than a day after I bought it.

Other observations – I never thought I’d live anywhere but the good ol’ US of A but here I am, currently living in Thailand.  My home is still the USA, and I know I will go back soon enough, but for now, here I am, enjoying my Pad Thai and splashing around in the blue oceans of Thailand. 

The same observations concerning change applies to the people in my life.  I used to pray when I was a kid that my parents would never die and always be around.  Now today my father is some twenty years past and my mom died just a few years ago. No one lives forever.

Now, I am not complaining or being melancholy.  No, I’m just observing.  I know life on this terrestrial ball is always changing, always moving.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Sure, there are sad aspects to the constant changes we endure but there are also joys, such as with the changes surrounding a marriage or the birth of a child. 

But it’s also really great and really assuring to know that there is something that never changes.  And that of course, is our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  But don’t take it from me, let the Word of God (which also lasts forever) give you that same comfort and assurance that it has given me:

·       But the Word of the Lord will last forever. And that Word is the Good News that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:25)

·       Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

·       “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (Revelation 1:8)

·       This is what the Lord says -- Israel's King and Redeemer: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

·       “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  (Revelation 22:12-13)

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