Life is Like a Vapor

 Have you ever heard the saying: Life is like a vapor? 

You’ve probably heard it when someone passes away or like around now when we’ve just started the New Year 2024 and the second month is almost over already.

When you hear the saying though, what does it mean to you? Does it cause you to reflect on your own life and want to make some changes for the better because you think time is running out on you?

In the book of James 4:13-15, we read, from The Message version: ”And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”“

That’s a reality check, is it not?

Life is transient or fleeting, that is, lasting only for a short time. That’s the nature of our earthly existence. 

Long ago we used to say today we’re here tomorrow we’re gone, but it’s now today we’re here today we’re gone. Life is truly like a vapor, a mist that appears for a moment and then disappears.

With this in mind, how are we living? 

We know that there is a life in the hereafter right? Eternal life is promised to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel of John 3:16 (NIV): ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

In John 10:28, The Passion Translation version, Jesus gave this reassurance to believers, ”I give to them the gift of eternal life and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of my hands.“

So as Christians, the term life is a vapor should really bring encouragement to us: this sinful life will soon be over. We should always live in a state of expectancy for the Lord’s return.

Again reading from The Passion Translation version of The Bible, Matthew 24:36-51 ”“Concerning that day and exact hour, no one knows when it will arrive, not even the angels of heaven —only the Father knows. For it will be like it was in the days of Noah when the Son of Man appears. Before the flood, people lived their lives eating, drinking, marrying, and having children. They didn’t realize the end was near until Noah entered the ark, and then suddenly, the flood came and took them all away in judgment. It will happen the same way when the Son of Man appears. At that time, two men will be working on the farm; one will be taken away in judgment, the other left. Two women will be grinding grain; one will be taken away in judgment, the other left. This is why you must stay alert: because no one knows the day your Lord will come. “But realize this: If a homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would come to rob his house, he would have been alert and ready, and not let his house be robbed. So always be ready, alert, and prepared, because at an hour when you’re not expecting him, the Son of Man will come.”“ 

Family, life is like a vapor. This life we are living right now is temporary. We are as it were on borrowed time. Therefore it is urgent, it is important that we approach each day very much aware that it could be our last moment alive. 

Many persons go to bed angry with their spouses, family members, church brothers and sisters, coworkers or friends. Some even brag, saying things like, yes, let them feel my wrath for a few days, I’ll reach out and make it right tomorrow. Who says you’ll be alive tomorrow. Who says they’ll be alive tomorrow?

Family, life is not only like a vapor, it is a vapor. And we must make sure that we make the best of every moment the Good Lord lends us breath.

Just as a vapor vanishes, Family, our lives here on earth, whether we live for 50, 60, 70, 80 years, is a brief journey in the grand scheme of things - eternity. After all, babies are dying, adolescents are dying, teenagers are dying, young adults are dying. Age is not even a factor. 

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 27:1 ”Never brag about the plans you have for tomorrow, for you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring to you.“ 

So we are called to put away pettiness, unforgiveness, anger, hatred, jealousy, self righteousness, bad mind, gossiping, covetousness, greed, lying, cheating, stealing, time wasting, and every other sin that would get in the way of our soul salvation. Amen?!

Instead, we must be ever more mindful of living every day as if it’s our last. We must approach each day with purpose and a keen awareness of the fleeting nature of time. We must remain humble, always. We must dwell in the presence of God always. We must depend on God, always. Trusting in Him, always. We must acknowledge His sovereignty and give Him control of our lives, always. We must seek a deeper connection with God and pursue that eternal life Jesus promised us, if we are faithful and obedient.

Titus 1:2  ”…the hope of eternal life. God, who never lies, has promised this before time began.“

And 1 John 2:25 - ”And he himself has promised us the never-ending life of the ages to come!“

Family, let us never take the saying life is like a vapor lightly from this day forward. It is a serious prompting for us to reflect on how we’re living, urging us to invest our time and energies, prioritize the eternal over the material, and align our priorities with the ways of God.

Our days are numbered. 

We should ask God as the psalmist did in Psalm 90:12, ”Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction.“

Our days, like seasons, spoken about in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, are like seasons orchestrated by God. And we must never take a moment for granted. 

Let us go forth into today making the most of every minute, cultivating love, kindness, and a legacy that speaks Jesus.

aub - 13 February 2024

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