Life as a Vapor

Does it ever feel like your life is moving very slowly? Maybe the school year is creeping along. Maybe that long road trip is seemingly never going to end at your destination. Or, maybe you are anticipating your next stage of life, which seems so far away. Have you ever felt this way? I think most of us have at one point or another. Isn’t it interesting, however, that the Bible describes our experience in this life as a vapor? James 4:14 says, “…What if your life? It is just a vapor, appearing for a little while, and then vanishing.” Have you ever been to a theme park on a hot summer’s day? If you have, chances are you may have stopped by a designated area commonly referred to as a “cool zone” or “mist zone”. This is the place where people go to take a break and cool off in a cloud of mist that, at least for a moment, provides temporary relief from the heat of the day. The Bible teaches that our existence is like a vapor, or a mist that is here for a little while and then quickly gone. It doesn’t always feel that way, but deep down we know it’s true. We are often reminded of this reality when tragedy strikes. God has us here for a little while so we should not waste our lives. God has called, chosen, and commissioned His people for a very specific purpose – to know Him and to make Him known. The gospel enables us to deal with difficult, momentary experiences because it assures of the permanence of God’s promises. When we believe and speak the gospel during our most difficult times, God’s grace reaches more and more people. May we be good stewards of God’s grace and spread the good news of Jesus Christ to those around us.