Have you ever considered how fragile our lives truly are? Many live their lives like there is no tomorrow; always taking chances; sometimes without regard for their own safety. Many times we take risks without ever considering the consequences. (Note: Don’t get me wrong here. I like to have “fun” just like the rest – and yes there have been times that I did some risky things without considering the possible consequences. Prayerfully, I am a little wiser now.)
In the Scriptures we find the following statements concerning the fragility and the brevity of our lives here on earth.
James 4:14,
“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.”
1 Peter 1:24,
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.”
Psalms 102:3,
“For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.”
Psalms 119:83,
“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.”
Job 7:7,
“O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.”
Notice some of the words used by the writers to describe our lives: vapor, wind, smoke, grass, flowers of grass. Every one of these adjectives clearly depicts the brevity and fragility of our lives.
To further illustrate this point, I am reminded of all of the death notices that were either broadcast over the airwaves and/or listed in the newspapers over the last couple of weeks; some for celebrities and some for every-day people like you and me. I am sure that each one of these who passed on into eternity believed that they had “time” on their side – regardless of their age. Yet, each one of them clearly came to understand the brevity and fragility of our lives.
Regardless of whether we are riding a bicycle, swimming in the ocean, driving our cars across town, flying in an airplane, walking our dog down a path, taking a shower, or even eating a piece of hard candy – our lives are in a constant opportunity of quickly vanishing away. You now have two choices here: 1) try to live in a box and pray that you stay healthy; 2) know for sure that you have a right relationship with Jesus Christ. If you know for certain that you are eternally secure in Jesus Christ – through repenting of your sins, trusting through faith in Jesus Christ to save you – you can live in confidence of knowing that though this fleshly body we live in is fragile – we are eternally secure in Jesus Christ.
This is why the apostle Paul could state in confidence in 2 Corinthians 5:8,
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
Job also in confidence penned the following in Job 19:25-27,
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
(Note: Though you are secure in Jesus Christ – this is not an admonishment to live a reckless and abandoned life.)
So now you must ask yourself, “Since our lives are fragile and brief, are you prepared for that day when you will step into eternity?” And lest you forget, every one of us will bow before Jesus Christ and give account of our lives here on earth – whether we trusted Him unto God’s eternal salvation, or we rejected Him unto eternal damnation.
Hebrews 9:27 states,
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
John 3:36 also provides us two eternal destinations (heaven / hell):
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
So, where will you spend your eternity? Will it be in heaven or hell? Are you prepared for that day? You can be if you personally know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
