A breath, a shadow, a mist. James chapter 4, verse 14. What is your life? You are a
mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Time
is but the narrow porch to eternity. Life is a candle soon extinguished,
a flower soon withered, a dream soon ended. The Lord calls us
not to presume on tomorrow, but to live this fleeting day in
the fear of God and in preparation for the eternal world to come.
Man is born to die. His cradle rocks upon the brink
of the grave. His pulse beats a funeral march
to the tomb. Man who is born of a woman is
few of days and full of trouble. He comes up like the grass in
the morning, But before the evening he is cut down and withers. The
world lives in a delusion. They build babbles of ambition,
dig cisterns that hold no water, and heap up treasures for time,
though eternity hastens toward them like a rushing flood. This
world in its present form is passing away, yet who lays it
to heart? David prayed, Show me, O Lord,
my life's end and the number of my days. Let me know how fleeting
my life is. The godly wisely weigh time in
the scales of eternity and number their days as steps toward the
day of judgment. Oh, how uncertain is our last
hour on earth! Youth is no shield against God's
summons to death. Strength cannot barter with the
grave. Riches are no ransom. A thousand may fall at your side
in a moment. You do not know what a day may
bring forth. Lost sinner, what will you do when your hour comes?
The clock of mercy now ticks. Soon it will cease. Behold, now
is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is the devil's day.
Today is God's day. Thanks be to God, there is one
who conquered death. Though we are vapors, he is the
rock of ages. Though we are grass, his word
endures forever. Though we fade as a shadow, his
mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear
him. Therefore, believer, do not spend
your fleeting days upon passing vanities. Live as a stranger
and pilgrim upon earth. set your affection on things
above, lay up treasure in heaven, live each hour as though it were
your last, for soon it will be. Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Eternal God, teach me to number
my days wisely, that I may not squander my brief span upon dust
and wind. Let me live as one ever ready
to die, Fix my eyes upon Jesus, who is my hope. Make me diligent
in duty, fervent in spirit, watchful in prayer, and weaned from this
present evil world. Prepare me, O Lord, for that
last hour, when time shall be no more. Amen.