The Morning Mist

Today’s Verse:

Whereas ye know not whatshall be on the morrow. For whatis your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ~James 4:14

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The transition from fall to winter is a wonderful time of the year. The other day, I walked outside just as the sun was rising. The morning mist brought a much-needed dew and moisture to the surrounding grass and plants. That cloudy mist eventually disappeared as the sun rose and as the weather became warmer. I enjoyed the mist, but it did not last very long. That mist is a picture of the life that we live. It is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

There is the allowance of life.

It is important that we grasp the understanding that life is a gift from God. We owe our very existence to God. We did not bring ourselves into this world. We are not self-created: we are God-created! God brought us into this world because He has a divine purpose for us. God told Moses to “choose life.” In a time when life is treated with disrespect and disregard, we must remind ourselves that life is a gift.

There is the abruptness of life.

Life is short! Someone I knew experienced the tragedy of his wife passing away a few days after she gave birth to their first child. This mother was only in her early thirties. A few years ago, I was summoned to the bedside of a young mother who gave birth to premature twins. One of the twins passed away minutes after being born. As I entered the room, I saw the father holding the little, lifeless infant in one hand. Life is brief and short. Our life is like a vapor that vanishes away.

There is the accountability in life.

If you only had one more day to live, where would you spend eternity? Are you going to Heaven or Hell? If you are not born again, the Bible says that you will spend eternity in Hell. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” We do not have as much time as we think we have to decide about being saved. Today is the day of salvation; today is the accepted time! To accept Christ as your Savior guarantees you a place in Heaven.

There is the awakening in life.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.” Let’s be real: we have no guarantee about what tomorrow holds for us. Do you think the people who perished in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center knew that they would die that day? Do you think the people who perished in the 2004 tsunami that swept through a large portion of Southeast Asia knew that they would die that day? The shortness of life should awaken us to live each day as if it were our last! We must be sober-minded and live for eternity instead of living for the here and now. We must redeem the time, because the days are evil.

Life is precious. We must hold the wonderful gift of life in high regard. If you are not saved, receive Jesus as your Savior so that your sins are forgiven and Heaven is your home. If you have been floating through life, today is a good day to take hold of where you are and start living a life that is on fire for God.

Have a sober-minded God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: John 7-8

#James #Life