The Mist of Life: Why Every Moment Matters

Why, 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.

James 4:14 (NIV)

A man goes to the doctor for what he thinks is a minor illness. The doctor confirms it is a common illness we hear about every day. “Hey, did you hear Frank has the flu?” That kind of thing. He was given medicine and sent home. But there was more going on than this annoying illness. I’ll spare you the details because they aren’t relevant, but what if I told you that this morning, this man is fighting for his life? Let’s make him my age, in his mid-fifties, and until now, he has been reasonably healthy.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

I don’t write this post as a warning, although it could be. I write this as a plea. Scripture is littered with warnings and admonishments that this earth is NOT our home, and we are here for a very short time. James 4:14 is just the first one that came to mind as I was praying this morning. Do a Google search and see how many times the Bible talks about our temporal situation on earth. I will get you started with a few (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, Psalm 103:15-16, 1 John 2:17).

For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:14

We are not promised a tomorrow. If you really want to get into it, we’re not promised the next minute. I say this because, over the last few months, the Lord has been putting some things on my heart that I felt I needed to do. I keep putting it off until after whatever I have going on at the time is done, and then I will say, “Well, God must want me to accomplish X, Y, and Z first because He has put it into my path.” Yes, that may be true, but let’s go back to the FIRST thing that He asked me to do. How long will I keep putting it off?

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:17

Look, before anything else, before we go any further, if you are not assured of your salvation, let’s get that taken care of right now. This very second. Put your phone or whatever device you're reading this on down and ask the Lord into your life. After that comes the hard part, building a relationship with Him. It sounds crazy, I know, but stick with me.

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Psalm 103:15-16

Find a church or another believer and let them know of your decision to give your life to God. At the same time, you are building a personal relationship with God, begin working on your relationship with a community of like-minded people, please! Begin to become spiritually formed through a personal relationship with Christ and a community of His people.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

Next, and I will lose some of you here, God will begin to put things on your heart to accomplish for His kingdom. You didn’t think you were going to get to sit on the sidelines, did you? No! You are being called onto the battlefield. God will want you to tell others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). God will want you to work and grow in His kingdom (Ephesians 4:11-16). If you think this is all a suggestion, think again. We are commanded, as believers, to do certain things. A lot of those things will not be comfortable. Do them anyway!

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James 4:4

I started this post by saying that God has asked me to do some things I haven’t done yet. Those things are irrelevant to you, but very relevant to me. Every person has their own story. Every person has their own things they are going through. Keep your eyes on what God wants from you, and less on what God is asking everyone else to do. Ask what His will is. Not for your life, but just what His will is, period. I will let you in on a little secret: He has already told you what is required of us in Scripture (Micah 6:8).

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

If you need prayer, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would be honored to pray with you.