James 4:14
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

It is difficult for mankind to view our existence as Yehova does.
We live our lives minute by minute, day by day, decade by decade.
And then…
It is over.
It may seem like a very long time to us, but to Yehova, it is just a wisp.

Someone was able to boil life down to just four words:
Birth, School, Work, Death
I think they even made some t-shirts to sell.

But what does it all mean?
Some try to live for a higher purpose.  We could fit religion into this model for some…
Birth-School-Religion-Work-Death

Does it all matter?
Or should I say, “does it matter at all”?
What is our reason for living?
We could come up with a list a mile long.
There are things that are important to each of us.
Every person could contribute something special to the list.
But really, why are we here?

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but the counsel of Yehova will stand.

What does it mean for something to stand?
To never erode.
To never wither.
To never change.
To be strong.
To endure.
To last forever.

If the plans of man are no match for the counsel of Yehova, then what are we to do?
Did you know the bible tells us?

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

The purpose of man.
Right there it is, at the end of Ecclesiastes.
Fear Yehova.
Keep His commandments.
And then all will be judged.
What does it mean?

I like to put it this way:
This life is simply an audition.
Yehova told us His instructions for living.
Yeshua Messiah came and taught us the same things.
This life is to determine if we will accept His words and His ways.
Know the things He says, and do them.

Pass the test.
Matthew 25:23
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…
OR
Fail the test.
Matthew 7:23
Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!”
Which will it be?

Could I possibly be right about this, in any way, shape, or form?
Could it really be this simple?
Scripture tells us about this test, and lets us know how to tell if we are passing the test:

1John 2:3-6
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Men teach us that “The Law” [Yehova’s instructions for living] is nailed to the cross and done away with…
Messiah says otherwise:
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.”
John 14:15
 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Men teach that the law is hard to understand and is too hard for us to do. Scripture says otherwise:
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
¹¹ “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. ¹² It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹⁴ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

Men teach that the Law is a burden to us.
Scripture says otherwise:
1John 5:3
 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

Men say they can do all things through Christ:
Philippians 4:13
 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
But then, they will say they cannot keep God’s law.
So which is it?
Can you do all things through His strength?
Or can you not?