-February 1, 2023-
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then varnishes away” (James 4:14).
“Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, my age is nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor” (Psalm 39:5).
Do you know what day the Lord will come? Do you know what day you will die? The answer is of course, none of us do. Our lives on earth are at best so short, especially compared to eternity. We have so little time to live for the Lord and serve Him here on earth. One of my teachers Gene Gibson, a tireless servant of Christ, used to always say, “I would rather burn out than rust out.”
In life there are no do overs, no mulligans. In informal golf, a mulligan is where your playing partner lets you take another shot after hitting an especially poor one. It isn’t counted on the scorecard. There are no such things in the Christian life. We must play it where it lies. That is why our priority must be on serving the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When we put the Lord and His kingdom first, He will provide for us and care for us.
Both David and James are saying the same thing. Life is like a vapor, a breath on a cold day, a puff of smoke; Here for the moment, gone the next. In the world there is what is the Doomsday Clock. It not a literal clock with hands and numbers, but it signifies when the end of the world may come. Recently with the war in Ukraine and global warming getting worse, the time on this clock has been pushed closer to midnight. What is amazing is that we go about our business not thinking about it. It is no wonder why the people of the world do the same when they hear about the Lord’s coming and that each person must one day stand before God.
May the Lord help us not to waste or kill time. Every second of every minute, every minute of every hour, every hour of every day is important. Paul told the saints in Ephesus, “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16 Amplified Bible).
Have a profitable, productive, and prosperous day for Jesus, making the most of every opportunity. Stay safe and healthy.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 