As A Vapor

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/fkmfT)

“. . .For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

James 4:14b

As someone said, “Here today and gone tomorrow;” the question is “What difference will it have made that we lived here?” and “Where will we go when we die?”

None of us like such “heavy” questions, for we’re much more into fun and frolicking than we are “forever.”  But, the fact remains that our lives are still “as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”—regardless of what we think about it or our view of the afterlife.



Truly, our lives here on earth are short at best.

And, contrary to popular belief, there’s only one thing that’s certain in this life:  Death—for there are many who find ways of getting out of paying taxes.



Why, then, do we live such frivolous lives with no thought for tomorrow?

Oh sure, Jesus said “Take, therefore, no thought for tomorrow—for tomorrow will take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Mt. 6:34).  Or, another way to say it is “Don’t get bent out of shape over what ‘might’ happen tomorrow—for you’ve got enough to take care of today.  Don’t ‘borrow’ trouble from tomorrow.”



Yet, this didn’t mean for us to not think of eternity and make preparations for it.

Pity those people who think Heaven and hell are what you make of things here on earth.  Are they in for a rude awakening (Lk. 16:19-31)!

No, much better is our remembering “Life is short and death is sure.”  Then, to that we add, “Sin’s the cause, but Christ is the Cure.”  Hallelujah!!



Moses, who penned Ps. 90, wrote “So teach us (Lord) to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (v.12).

Since none of us know how many days our sojourn here on earth will be, how, then, can we “number our days”?

Quite simply:  By treating today like it’s our last or only day here on earth—and then enjoying it like it would last forever.  No “unfinished business.”  No “putting off until tomorrow what needs to be done today” (concerning eternal things, seeking to right broken relationships, etc.).



In many respects, our lives here are like the vapor trails left behind high-flying jets overhead.  At first, their plumes are quite substantial and bright; but, soon the prevailing winds dissipate them and soon their gone.



And, so it is with our lives.  While young, we are strong and vibrant. . .full of vim and vigor   . . .able to at least leap “small molehills with a single bound.”  But, with each passing day/year our strength begins to wane, as does our joy (if we’re not careful).  That’s why we must be born again and allow the Heavenly Father to mold and make us as He sees fit (Eph. 2:10; II Tim. 2:21).  That way we’ll be blessed both in life and death (Rev. 14:13).  And, that way we’ll not have to worry if we’ve lived our lives in vain (I Cor. 15:58).  Amen and amen.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated June 21, 2010