The vapor of life

I wanted to publicly declare how grateful I am to be going through this Christmas season.  As I alluded to last time, I had health challenges in 2023 that actually put me in the emergency room for a few days.  It was an intense reminder to cherish each day for the gift that it is.  The fact of the matter is we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

Yesterday, I was reading from James 4; I came across verses 13 and 14 which states: “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit”; [verse 14] whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  In my Bible, I once wrote this note: “this [James 4:14] was brought home in a very personal way when Dad passed away.”  This was the most intense example of this verse of all.  Furthermore, the older I get, the more I see just how spot-on the Bible is when it declares that life is a vapor that quickly vanishes away.  Not only am I in my 40’s, but somehow my younger brother is about to turn 40 himself!  The years have flown by quickly.

Rebecca St. James once declared, “I want to encourage everybody listening to really be radical for God.  And know that these days on Earth are short, they are numbered; let’s seize the day, let’s be radical for God.”  She was referencing Psalm 90:12, where the Psalmist prays to God, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  There was a time when I didn’t understand this verse, but now, because of the life events I’ve referenced, I get it.  Life can be stressful; this time of year with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be stressful.  I freely acknowledge that.  But, it’s still absolutely true that whenever we awaken to see another sunrise, it is an incredible gift.

I don’t want to waste my life.  Since it is so brief and fleeting, I want to invest it in things that matter.  I had heard this quote, but had to dig to find where it originated; it was Thomas Merton who once said, “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” 

Can I say that writing this hasn’t been easy?  God showed me areas in my life that I’ve been climbing a ladder, and it was actually leaning against the wrong wall, as Merton said.  It’s humbling to admit, but it’s the truth.  Before I submitted this, I had to get on my knees and ask Him for forgiveness.  In 1998, the Christian singer Carman (who has been enjoying Heaven since his passing in 2021) put it this way in his song: “All in life”: “If I don’t glorify Your name, the things I do, I do in vain…Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, but through the Word of God I know when all in life is done and passed only what’s done for Christ will last.”

God bless,

Kevin