“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14. In the above scripture, the word vapour is used figuratively to show how short the human life is on earth. Consider the shortness of man’s life in comparison with many of the works of his own hands. Even a soundly made article of furniture will serve generation after generation of the same family and will continue to fulfill its purpose long after the maker has passed away. We take down from our shelves books which were written, printed, and bound two or three centuries ago, and as we handle them we feel how long is their life compared with our own.
Life in comparison with eternity is very short; no matter the number of years lived on earth. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live and do business and make money. There were some who said of old as many are still saying today, “we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain” see James 4:13. It is good to set goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is absolutely no point making plans as though God does not exist because the future is in God’s hand. Making plans and doing business outside of God is sinful. A life lived independent of God is a life lived in sin. Is your head full of ambitions as to what you will be and do in the future? Please note that death or some other thing can cut short such an ambition that is not anchored in Christ.
Life is very short; we are not sure that we can live and fulfill all the ambitions we conceived outside of God, since life itself is but a vapour that appears but for a little time and then vanishes away. In James 4:13 aforementioned, we see men living without any recognition of the relation of this life to eternity; giving themselves to life on its physical and human side, they fail to prepare for the life hereafter.
And Jesus “spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hath provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21.
Many of us are engaged in business; our lives and labours are necessarily spent in trade. As we carry out our business, we also plan for the future. Is God included or excluded from your plans? In James 4:15, the scripture enjoins us to submit our life, business and plans to the will of God, “For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that”.
As a sinner, you can only submit your life to the will of God by first of all acknowledging that you have sinned against God and that you cannot save yourself from sin. Confess your sins to the LORD JESUS CHRIST as the only Son of God, who came into the world in the flesh, died for your sins and rose from the dead to take away your sins. We implore you to forsake your sins and then put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is now in heaven and is coming back to judge the quick and the dead. As you take this decision, we assure you that the LORD JESUS CHRIST by His Spirit and through His word will start teaching you how to number your days, and apply your heart unto wisdom. See Psalms 90:12.
If you have put your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ after reading this tract, we do urge you to write and inform us so that we will rejoice with you and continue to pray for you.