Only one life


Life is a vapor. Each moment that passes is a moment I cannot get back. Each word I say is a word I cannot take back. And I am not guaranteed even my next breath....

....so why do I live as though I have all the moments in the world, as though my hasty words will be quickly forgotten, and my last breath won't be till I am in my 90's?

I think that is why Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 7:2, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart."

Life is a vapor. Number my days. Be careful how I walk. Stay far away from careless words. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Rejoice. Give thanks. Pray without ceasing. Teach with kindness. Smile at the minutes, hours, and days to come. Encourage and build up. Don't complain or grumble. Do good.

Those commands are all found in Scripture...yet how often do I take them to heart? How often do I preach them to myself? How often do I examine myself in the light of these truths?

My heart can grow heavy at all the lost moments, the hasty words, the frowns instead of smiles. Did I ruin the moment? the hour? the day? Though I repent, I can't redeem lost time....and my soul can feel downcast.

But one look into the Words that give life and seeds of hope fill my heart. God is the Redeemer of time, hasty words, lost moments, and all the sin in between! He exchanges beauty for ashes. As Ephesians 2:10 says, I am "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that I (we) should walk in them."

Not only does He redeem but ALL His plans for me (and those in my life) will be accomplished. My sin will not win out, God will. My fleshly desires will not prevail, the fruits of the Spirit will! The Christian life is not one of gloom and failure but of joy and victory!!!

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last."


C.T Studd

Comments

Lorraine Moen said…
So true... Beautiful, Thank you!
What a great reminder! Thanks for sharing that Kristin! :)