Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] Life is but a Vapor

Yes a vapor doesnt last very long. It comes and goes.

On Thu Apr 7th, 2011 8:15 AM CDT Michael J. Knight wrote:

>
>Life is but a Vapor
>
>
>
>At a very early age, I was blessed to discover the wonderful writings of
>King Solomon, the humble ruler who unselfishly asked God for wisdom,
>instead of the typical list of wants compiled by most kings.
>
>I am not sure if he won my affection by his great insight with the
>teaching of the two disputing mothers and the baby, or when after he
>experienced all the pleasures life had to offer, he then had the
>conviction to tell the world, "None of it matters."
>
>God must have had something up His sleeve, because as a youngster, He
>made sure many nuggets of truth were planted deep within my very
>impressionable heart. It produced a kind of "Princess and the Pea" fairy
>tale effect. It caused me not be able to rest too comfortably on the
>"mattress of complacency."
>
>The Holy Spirit always made sure that soft whispers of wisdom would
>consistently move in and out of my life. I recall one particular verse
>that I could never seem to forget. It was one of those sayings that you
>weighed everything against.
>
>It's found in the book of Ecclesiastes. It says, "It is better to
>spend more time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die
>and you should think about it while there is still time."
>(Ecclesiastes 7:2).
>
>You must be thinking as I did, Goodness gracious, what a depressing
>statement! A real bubble buster! Actually, for me it was quite the
>contrary. That rather gloomy statement would cause me to continually
>reprioritize my life.
>
>The Holy Spirit made sure that particular Scripture was stored in a
>"refer to often" file within my mind. He was faithful to lead me to that
>mental index whenever I developed the self-centered notion that somehow
>my life was my own and I could live it anyway I pleased.
>
>As James often reminds us, "For what is your life? It is even a
>vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishes away"
>(James 4:14).
>
>This verse is certainly not one of those "claim it" verses we so readily
>display on our fridges with a cute little magnet. But then again, why
>don't we? Are we so in love with our lives or so deeply immersed in our
>pleasures that we cannot bare to be reminded that one day it will all
>disappear like a passing mist?
>
>On the front of my computer at home and work, I keep a small, neon
>colored "post it" with the following words displayed directly at eye
>level: "Only one life, will soon be past, Only what is done, for Christ
>will last."
>
>So what is our duty? The wisest king that ever lived summed it up in one
>sentence.
>
>"…Fear God and keep His commandments…" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
>
>So, in closing, I leave you with a K.I.S.S. – "Keep It Simple
>Saints." And always remember, "It's only a minute, but eternity's in
>it." Make your vapor count!
>
>Remember
>Only one life, will soon be past,
>Only what is done, for Christ will last.
>
>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
>communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians
>13:14)
>
>Love & Prayers,
>
>Michael J. Knight.
>
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/>
>
>What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
>