What is your Life?

James 4:13-15 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: vs 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Vs 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

The Bible likens life to a vapour. A vapour is the mist or fog that you see in the morning that disappears soon after. Life is just for a moment.

Here are some reasons why life is but for a moment:

1.    Death is Certain

    a.    Old age

If any of us lived to see a hundred years that would still be a very short time. When you view life in the light of eternity, life is only a vapour.

    b.    Sudden death

No one is guaranteed that they will live to their full age. The news is full of tragedies such as car accidents, murders, and heath issues (Cancer); and all these things can come upon us like a thief in the night.

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”

    c.     God can cut our life short if He chooses

Luke 12:20 “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

We must remember that God gives life and God can take it away at any time. If God decides to cut our life short, then that is totally up to Him. That is why it is important that we live surrendered lives to Christ.

2. Coming of Christ is soon

James 5:8 “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

Death is not only certain, but the coming of Christ is very soon. Many things around us are happening that the Word of God predicts that prove the end time is near. Life is a vapour because Jesus is coming very soon.

Because life is only for a moment the Bible instructs us to live according to the will of God. It a sad thing when a Christian chooses to live life as if they are going to live forever on earth.

James 4:16 “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

We have a limited time on earth, but the flesh continues to fight against God’s will and desires to live for self.  Notice what the Word of God states.

Ephesians 5:15-18 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, vs 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Vs 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Vs 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

a.    Do not be foolish but walk with wisdom.
b.    Do not waste time but make every opportunity count for God’s glory.
c.     Strive to know and to do what God wills and do not seek to do what you want to do.
d.    Be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and do not be overcome with the lust of your flesh. In other words, do not just live for yourself.

We must live with eternity in view. Someone once said, “For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal matters many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground.”

Notice what Moses said. Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”