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Greetings!
Today's devotion is the launch of a series that will present topics from God's Word using the phrase "Life is too short ..." Life is a precious gift and with the rise of youth suicide's in our community and around the country, it seems appropriate to celebrate life yet also encourage the responsibility for living.
This past weekend was an eye-opener for this young soul. I witnessed the 78th birthday of my father and a room full of new additions to the family. For my dad, the group of people in the room represented round five of the Martin family. It was incredible to witness my mother and father with a room buzzing with their children, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren. As I sat back and watched the moments unfold, I realized something ... I am getting old!
The truth that God's Word sheds upon my revelation of aging and the life course is that life is short. In fact, life is too short. Life is too short for complaining, for isolation, for stinginess, for hatred, for confusion, for worry, etc. Life is a precious gift that comes with instructions but without a crystal ball. Today may be the roughest day of your life or it may be the best. Either way, life is too short to live carelessly. We must redeem the time and live every moment fully and under God's care and guidance.
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Recognize the shortness of life
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
~ James 4:13-15 ~ |
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Live!
The short passage from the Book of James illustrates the truth that life is short ... too short. Life is likened to a vapor or a mist. Life is apparent to the senses for a moment and then it dissipates. The vapor or mist is not gone but it has changed form. Maybe it joined the atmosphere, maybe it soaked into your jacket, or maybe it blew into another region. The one thing we must realize is that the vapor is gone from natural senses. We too, will live like a vapor. We will walk this earth and then someday leave it to live eternally. Thus, life is too short on earth so we need to live it right as it matters for eternity!
James begins this short discourse on life and living by recognizing that we are planners. We strive, create, and develop plans for living yet fail to realize that we live in and are only guaranteed the moment. Planning is great but living "now" for and through God is what makes life count. We need to recognize the brevity of life and live moments fully.
Living on purpose moment to moment is difficult. We are designed and destined for eternity so eternity is in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 states, 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
God has everything planned out and He desires you to live your life fully and enjoy living. In fact, God is the only One that sees the beginning through to the end (Psalm 139:15-16). In His mind there is no end. It is us, the weak and feeble humans, that have eternity in our hearts but always speak about the need for more time. We have enough time eternally but not on this rock. Therefore, life is too short. We must live it fully for and through God.
Friend, this week take the time to slow down and realize you are not built or fashioned for this earth. Your soul has a destination and it is Heaven. Your current body is but a vehicle that carries eternal cargo ... your soul. Take time this week to reflect on your eternal nature and shape your life according to what God has for you in the moments that will build this week. Life matters! You matter in Life! You matter to your family, friends and sphere of influence. Life is too short! Give today and each moment your full attention as God desires to use and bless you in every moment!
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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