Make each day matter for the Kingdom.

Why is Life a Vapour?

As my girls were growing up, I loved to take pictures of them. In fact, I would make a point of it to have a little photo session every six months until they were three years old. During these first three years, they changed so much. I knew these moments were fleeting and I wanted to capture them in an image I could adore forever. Now granted, I am not a professional photographer by any means. But still we had fun and I have those snapshots to treasure.

Once the girls turned three, our little photo sessions would happen every year around their birthday. We would make it special. They would help choose their outfit and the location. I tried to catch their personalities in the pictures and we selected our favorites to display in a trilogy frame in their bedroom. Maybe you have done something like this too.

Life goes by quickly. I don’t think anyone reading this post will deny the truth in this statement. In fact, slogans have been centered around this notion. Reebok used the slogan, “Life is short. Play hard.”, at one point. As I walk around the house and see the little faces in the frames, I remember those moments when my daughters were that small. How their tiny hands clasped my fingers. How they said certain words in that funny little way of theirs. In my mind, it seems like it was just yesterday. Can you relate?

In the Bible, James says “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14, KJV). A vapour, or mist, is a substance suspended in the air for just a moment before it disappears. It never lasts long. Sometimes, if you blink, you may miss it. In the scope of eternity, our life on Earth is just a vapour. Here for a short while and gone just as quickly.

Why then would James be warning his audience that life is short? If you would, take a moment and read a few other verses with me. Maybe you would like to follow along in your Bible, or I have placed the verses below.

James 4:13-17

13 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:

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.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

In looking at James 4:14 in the context of the passage, we can see James was admonishing the people (and us) to not take life for granted. . .

To not rely just on our own talents and abilities to accomplish our goals. . .

To not make plans without including the Lord’s will in them.

Ponder this.

We are graciously given life by God. It is dangerous to live a life driven solely by our own desires without a care as to whether our life is pleasing to Him.

This one Earthly life we’ve been given will evaporate as quickly as tomorrow’s morning mist clears during your commute or morning coffee.

This idea is not meant to discourage you. On the contrary, I want to encourage you with one specific thought for today. And for tomorrow. And for the next day.

What will you do with this day you’ve been given? How will you make it matter for His Kingdom?