1st July 11 Your Life is a Vapour.
Have you ever boiled a kettle? within a few seconds the kitchen is filled with vapour (steam) and then a flick of the switch and the steam disappears? Our lives can be just like that one minute you're here and the next minute you're gone!
Two events happened today, which have reminded me of the frailties of life. The first was attending the funeral of Michael Kweku Osei-Boadu (20.8.86 – 17.06.11) who passed into glory a couple of weeks ago after a long battle with illness. Kweku attended the church, of which I pastor, The Potters House Christian Church Croydon, some time ago. I remember him as being bright, well mannered and respectful. It was good to see so many family, friends and colleagues attend the service and that is a measure of our brother’s popularity. (Interestingly we give loved ones flowers when they can no longer smell them?).
The second event was as we were driving home from the funeral a lady was knocked off her bike by a car (which initially drove off before returning) along lower addiscombe road. The lady was passing in and out of unconsciousness and was bleeding heavily from her nose and mouth. Fortunately the ambulance service were on the scene within a few minutes and they stretchered her off to hospital.
Our best wishes and prayers go out to Kweku’s family and the lady cyclist, whom we pray makes a speedy recovery.
These two events remind of James 4:14 “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone”. James reminds us, of the frailties and fragility of life here on this earth. Young's Literal Translation says it this way ”who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing” Have you ever driven a car through the fog? Then after a few minutes the fog disappears? This is the imagery James is using to show us how easily our lives can pass away. In essence what this text is teaching us, is that life is too often and that we need to live our lives in light of eternity.
In one moment of time we can step from this world into the next world, where we will all stand before God and give an account for our lives. Hebrews 9:27 “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement”. I thank God my brother Kweku is “Born again” (John 3:3), but what about you? What about the lady cyclist? If you were to die today, where would you go? Heaven or Hell? Have you made peace with friends? Family? Foes?, but most importantly, with our Father in heaven?
The following are a few scriptures to ponder and reflect on,
Job 7:17 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
Psalm 39:5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah
Psalm 78:39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return
Psalm 102:3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.
Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Isaiah 2:22 Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear god and keep his commandments, for this is mans all”.
