This morning, our thoughts were stirred by an experience heading into work today. Many times, we see things that remind us of certain passages and Biblical texts, and the drive to work today was such a time. Heading into work today, there was vapour coming up from the ground due to the frost and cold from last night. But, today, I noticed something about the vapour that was different than usual. Since the weather has been unseasonably warm for several days now, the brief cold stint last night did not chill the ground at all. Therefore, when the cold frost hit the ground that was still relatively warm, the vapour came up and began to dissipate rather quickly. During the fall when the vapour comes, it may be closer to mid-morning before the vapour gets burned off from the sun's heat. But, seeing the rapid dissipation of it today made me think of this verse in a way that I had not seen before.

We know from the verse, as has been quoted and preached many times, that our lives are short and relatively minuscule in the grand scheme of things.  When considering the life of a 100 year old man, it is not all that much (in perspective) when considered alongside approximately 7000 years of history.  Further still, it is not anything more than a drop of a bucket when considered next to the endless ages of eternity. So, our lives, for  the short time that we are here, are a vapour that is burned from the earth rather quickly. This thought annihilates any thinking of elitism or snobbery, but it should instill in us the utmost humility and meekness. But, what struck me this morning was the "quicker than usual" dissipation of the vapour.

Even though our lives are not all that lengthy in relation to the history of the world, consider being born in a situation of poverty and starvation. The vapour would dissipate even quicker. Consider being born in a war- orn area. What do you think the probability would be of living to a ripe old age?  What if one is born with disease or soon infected with some widespread epidemic (like the days of old with the Black Plague). Surely, we can see that the vapour gets burned from the pages of history faster than it would if given "normal circumstances." So, what should we learn from that lesson?

If we have been blessed to live in a society that is not torn by the ravages of war, left starving in its own poverty, and susceptible to the plagues and viruses that so easily infect us, we should pray the Lord that we seek His will and face for the time that we have. Even though our moments here will soon pass with all memory of us being gone, we should seek the Lord's face in every decision and step. In the context, James makes it abundantly clear that we have no control over the morrow and should not declare what we will and will not do (by our own strength and might). Rather, we should say what we will and will not do, "If the Lord will." One of my favourite expressions to quote (but least favourite to  experience) is, "If you don't say 'Lord willing,' the Lord can make you say 'Lord willing.'"

Beloved, we are not our own, but we are bought with a great price. Even though the vapour comes and goes quickly (sometimes more quickly than others), we should not think that our vapourous lives mean nothing to God. Sometimes, people have pity-parties and say, "What's the point?" The point is that God has seen fit to spare us to this very hour, and we should be down on our knees in thanksgiving and constant prayer that our steps would be those of righteousness and not iniquity. While lives quickly pass, He has seen fit to cut short some and extend others (see the lives of Jeroboam's son and Hezekiah for examples of both).  Therefore, we should not get caught up thinking about, "Well, how many days do I have left?" Rather, we should be continually thinking, "How better could I serve the Lord with what days I may have left?"

So, let us go up to the house of the Lord every time the doors are open like it might be our last time there! People always want the last time to be the best time, so may each worship service be as good (in effort) as if it was to be the last. Let every prayer, supplication, and honest deed be made as fervently as we can. Who doth know that at the end of our meager existence we can touch someone just starting out in a way that lends strength and hope to their journey? I trust that I have been and will remain thankful for the gray heads in my life that  have taken time to lend advice and a hand to me that has helped tremendously in my journey. Even though grief, our lives are precious in the sight of God, and may each moment of service that we give be precious to us as well.

In Hope,

Bro Philip