Purposes, plans, and achievements of men may all disappear like

Hear the voice of Charles Spurgeon, the preacher of fire and faith, who once declared: “Purposes, plans, and achievements of men may all disappear like yon cloud upon the mountain's summit; but, like the mountain itself, the things which are of God shall stand fast for ever and ever.” These words rise like a hymn of eternity, contrasting the fleeting endeavors of man with the unshakable foundations of the divine. They remind us that what is mortal and self-fashioned fades like mist before the wind, but what is rooted in the eternal breath of God remains steadfast, enduring through centuries and beyond the grave.

The cloud upon the mountain is a striking image. To the ancient mind, it calls forth the vision of vapor drifting across peaks, glorious in its moment yet vanishing in silence as though it never was. Such is the fate of human plans—kingdoms built with pride, victories paraded with banners, philosophies proclaimed with confidence—all soon dissolve. The mightiest of empires, the proudest of conquerors, the most dazzling inventions of man—all pass like a shadow at dusk. But the mountain, immovable and eternal, is the truth of God, upon which ages beat in vain. His purposes are the rock beneath the fleeting mists of history.

History itself bears witness to this truth. Consider the grandeur of Rome, whose legions once ruled the known world. Caesar's achievements, though mighty, eventually crumbled into dust; the empire’s marble palaces lie broken, and its glory is now but a tale told by scholars. Yet the faith of a few persecuted Christians, humble and despised, endured. Rome fell, but the things of God remained, spreading across the earth like roots deeper than stone. The cross, once a symbol of shame, outlasted the eagle of Rome, proving Spurgeon’s words true—that what is wrought of God cannot be shaken.

There is also the lesson of Babylon, once adorned in splendor and feared by nations. Nebuchadnezzar’s towers pierced the heavens, his plans soared with ambition, yet they were swept away like the clouds he so admired. The city lies in ruins, swallowed by sands, but the prophecies of God spoken against it endure in scripture, still living, still teaching, still standing when walls and empires are gone. The testimony is clear: what belongs only to man shall fade, but what belongs to God remains immortal.

The heart of Spurgeon’s saying is both humbling and uplifting. It humbles us, for it shows that our achievements, however radiant, are but morning dew; they cannot withstand the heat of time. Yet it uplifts us, for it reveals that if we root our lives in the eternal, in truth, in love, in justice, in God’s will, then we too partake of the mountain’s permanence. Our deeds, though small in the eyes of the world, can become eternal when aligned with the divine. A kind word, a selfless act, a prayer whispered in faith—these endure longer than monuments of stone.

Therefore, the lesson is plain: do not build your life upon the clouds of pride, ambition, and fleeting success. Instead, build upon the mountain of truth, where storms may rage but the foundation will never move. Seek not only what brings momentary applause, but what carries eternal weight. Align your plans with the purposes of God, and your life will stand when others fall. Like the psalmist declared, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”

Practical actions follow this wisdom. Each day, ask yourself: Am I laboring for the cloud, or for the mountain? Begin with small choices: live with integrity even when none are watching; love those who cannot repay you; serve causes that outlast your own name. Anchor your life in prayer, in the scriptures, in acts of mercy. Let your purposes be God’s purposes, your plans His will, and your achievements the fruit of righteousness. In this way, though your body may pass, your legacy will rest secure upon the eternal mountain of God.

Thus, Spurgeon’s words are not merely poetry but a summons to live wisely. Clouds will always pass, but mountains endure. Let your soul cling to what is eternal, and you will stand fast, unshaken, for ever and ever.