A Short Life is Equal to a Dash

I can remember a time when Sunday was a day for two things. First, it was a day of going to church and then coming home with family and really making it a family day. Unfortunately, there is not much of that going on in today's world. We are told that in the end times that ther would be a great falling away, and by George, the Bible is right again.
Just about all churches would be full on Sunday mornings and when preachers preached past noon there wasn't anything said. When we got home, my grandmother would have already cooked for Sunday on Saturday. We usually had chicken fired steak, potatoes and other vegetables and pickled peaches for starters. For desert it was banana or chocolate pudding or pies of different styles. What happened to those days?!?!?!
I was a young kid back then, and now all my grandparents, and both parents are gone. Even though some of those memories were a long time ago, they seem like it was just yesterday to me. James tells us, "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). He points our some great things in this on verse.
First, we all have this habit of telling people that we will do something tomorrow or we have plans for tomorrow. I have tried to always tell people, Lord willing I'll do it tomorrow, but I've not always been successful at it. We do not know what is going to happen in the next minute, much less tomorrow. Are you ready if tomorrow never comes?
Second, James asked a good question; "What is your life?" I realize he answered a a portion of that in this scripture, but let's look at it in full. I challenge you to look at your life and ask yourself, "what is my life all about?" When you die, people will look at your tombstone and see the date you were born and the date your life ended on earth. I think we would agree that those are two very important dates. However, the dash stands for what your life stood for. What will the dash say about you??? How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as a person who loved Jesus and tried to serve Him, or will it be remembered for all the earthly things you did? So, what does your life stand for now?
Third, James reminds us that life is very short even when we die at an old age. I will soon be 50, if the Lord allows me to live that long. I realize there are those who are older than me will say, ' you're still a kid.' I laugh when I tell those that are younger than me the same thing. However, I can remember things that happened to me as a kid better than I can remember things I did yesterday. they still seem so real to me. I remember talking to a young lady who was only 16, wishing she was 18. she was in the youth group at Cedar Creek MBC, where I pastored and she was wishing her life away, lol. I was 43 then and I simply told her to enjoy her youth. I asked her, 'how long do you think it took me to get fro 18 to 43? I know it took only 25 years, but is seemed like it only took 5 or so. Life is fast and everything we do today is really important. A vapour is something that appears for just a second and then disappears into nothing.
Life on earth is short, but we must remember that we can choose to live forever. We must choose Christ. We must accept the truth of "how Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 91 Cor. 15:3-4). Life is truly very short; so we must choose to do good and abstain from evil. We al nee to choose life over death. We need to remember that we are in control of our destiny and we need to wonder what people will remember about us when we leave this earth. My challenge to you is to seek Christ, live life for Him, and know that He is the only way to eternal life.