These fugitive, transitory things'

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"The world and its desires pass away, but the man 
who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17

There is a reality in true religion, and indeed, 
rightly viewed, a reality in nothing else. For every 
other thing passes away like a dream of the night, 
and comes to an end like a tale that is told. Now 
you cannot say of a thing that passes away and 
comes to an end—that it is real. It may have the 
appearance of reality—when in fact it is but a shadow. 

Money, jewels, pictures, books, furniture, securities, 
are transitory. Money may be spent, jewels be lost, 
books be burnt, furniture decay, pictures vanish by 
time and age, securities be stolen. 

Nothing is real but that which has an abiding substance. 

Health decays, 
strength diminishes, 
beauty flees the cheek, 
sight and hearing grow dim, 
the mind itself gets feeble, 
riches make to themselves wings and flee away, 
children die, 
friends depart, 
old age creeps on, 
and life itself comes to a close. 

These fugitive, transitory things are then mere shadows.
There is no substance, no enduring substance in them. They 
are for time, and are useful for a time. Like our daily food 
and clothing, house and home—they support and solace us
in our journey through life. But there they stop—when life 
ends they end with it. 

But real religion—and by this I understand the work of God 
upon the soul—abides in death and after death, goes with 
us through the dark valley, and lands us safe in a blessed 
eternity. It is, therefore, the only thing in this world of 
which we can say that it is real.

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man 
who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17

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