But a vapor.....
“Lord, let me know my end, And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days like hand widths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Certainly all mankind standing is a mere breath. Selah Certainly every person walks around as a fleeting shadow; They certainly make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.” Psalm 39:4-6 NASB
These kinds of scriptures made me uncomfortable in my early years of Bible reading. We live in such a “here and now” kind of society. For those of us who belong to the Lord, it’s excellent news that this isn’t it for us. I have had to face this reality up close and personal over the last few years through losing multiple family members. People spend, I’ve spent at times, so much time on building a life, HERE. That isn’t inherently bad or evil but it’s not the ultimate of what I should be thinking about and focusing on. At some point, we will all have to finally let go. It’s sobering but necessary to hear.
I echo the words of Moses. Lord teach us the brevity of life that we may grow in wisdom. I echo the words of Ecclesiastes which remind us life is but a vapor. I echo the words of Jesus that tell us to be prepared for his return. Life is so much more than the things we consume ourselves with and worry about. It’s more than even that thing you are anxious about right now.
The good news is that the presence of the Lord is with us and his goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. For those who have embraced him as Lord and Savior, who have encountered him and obeyed him, we will be with him forever.
Until next time
Demetrius