Robert Frost argued with his poem that the most precious, "golden" moments in life cannot last, echoing the biblical fall from Eden. This is written in the famous Roaring Twenties (1920-1929) which ended with the stock market crash in 1929, leading to the Great Depression (1929-1939). Personally, I think that it's not actually a commentary on the passing of time as much as what a warning that even with everything gold plated one can't survive with merely items from this realm which is horribly fleetly. Not even a momentary good intention will safe anyone other than striving to be good and righteous all the time. In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, the Bible's Book of Job is so crucial because it parallels the main character Guy Montag’s journey, symbolizing the suffering, faith, and perseverance required to challenge a dystopian society. Read by the old English lecturer Faber, it inspires Montag to endure, lose his old life, and seek new meaning, mirroring Job's trials
I have read this passage from Job at funerals of loved ones:
"But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, that thou wouldst keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldst appoint me a set time, and remember me!
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands."
Followed by this, from John 14:
" Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
