Our dust will return to the ground it came from, and the gift of the spirit to God (Eccl 12:7).  We’re told to be afraid of “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt 10:28).  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies: and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  He asked (Jn 11:25).  Again people are reminded what good for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul (Mk 8:36).  God is not willing for anyone to be lost (Mt 18:14).

Love is such a great gift that it’s impossible to live without it.  It’s one of the gifts of our eternal soul.  A French poet, novelist, and dramatist Victor Hugo (1802–1885) explained, “Try all you will, you cannot annihilate that eternal relic of the human heart, love.”  As a popular song goes, “Love makes the world go round.”  Indeed, it does.

Love is all about living.  It’s ever-present, simple, and far-reaching in its grasp.  Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), a German mathematician was certain: “Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.”  Every day is different.  People witness the landscape taking shape in all its glory.  Plants blossom, flowers bloom, and we reap harvests of abundant fruits.  These manifestations are alive, and are there to greet us every morning.

Changes in Lives

Welcoming changes in our lives captivate us.  A German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) said, “Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal.”  We ought to accept this gift of change.  For it’s only through this that people grow.  Authentic change takes root in our lives.  In the midst of this delight people have to guard against what’s unbeneficial.

But change calls for vigilance, and some opinion leaders share this hope.  These leaders are progressive and they push the society forward.  An Irish orator and politician John Philpot Curran (1750–1817) remarked, “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.”  Freedom has to be always nurtured, guarded, and protected.  Brave people have sacrificed their lives for us to be free.

In order to enjoy these blessings we have to offer prayers to our loving God.  Swami Sivananda (1887 -1963), a Hindu spiritual teacher, proponent of Yoga and Vedanta, wrote, “Practice meditation regularly.  Meditation leads to eternal bliss.  Therefore meditate, meditate.”  It’s our responsibility to be faithful to God.  Make the gift of worshiping him a practice, for it brings joy.

Devotion in Living

Devotion keeps God always in our lives.  A Swiss theologian Karl Barth (1886–1968) said, “Man can certainly be free from God…but he cannot escape him.  He can certainly hate God and be hateful to God, but he cannot change into its opposite the eternal love of God which triumphs even in his hate.”  God loves us even if some people hate him.  It’s however better to love God because he’s the giver of all good gifts.

Love God’s commandments.  People can’t live without them.  An Italian scholar and poet, Petrarch (1304–1374) was sure: “Love is the crowing grace of humanity, the holiest right of the soul, the golden link which binds us to duty and truth, the redeeming principle that chiefly reconciles the heart to life, and is prophetic of eternal good.”  Authentic love knows the truth.  When it blossoms it shines goodness on all things eternal.  These gifts are based on the promises of Christ himself.