OUR LIFE IS LIKE BUT A VAPOR

Written 9/3/25 by Randy Miller

 

As I reflect on the many decades of my life, and look ahead at the finish line getting closer and closer, I’m reminded of Bible verses that talks about our life being but a vapor.

 

James 4:14 says:   "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away".    

 

There are other verses that talk about man’s life being something similar.   Job 7:7 says:   "Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will no more see good".

Psalm 144:4 says: "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow".

 

No matter what age you are, these verses and many others remind us that our time on Earth is SHORT.   I never thought of that when I was growing up, or in my 20’s starting my career, or in my 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s as my wife and I raised a family.

 

Now that I’m in my 70’s, these verses really do ring true.   

 

So, what are the lessons we can learn from these verses?   Here are a few:

 

LIVE FOR CHRIST EVERY DAY

 

I’ve tried to live my life by the credo:   God opens doors, God closes doors, and I just want to be smart enough to figure out what doors I’m to go thru.   Ask for His guidance each and every day.   There were a few doors I pushed open without God’s direction, and they cost me dearly.   Ask God for daily direction.

 

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

God wants us to enjoy the journey of life each and every day, no matter WHAT your age.   Everything and everyone He put on this earth, He did so for us to ENJOY.   Now that doesn’t mean you’re NOT going to have troubles or problems.   We’re all human, and that means we’re all going to have troubles or problems.  But, ASK for His guidance and grace to get you thru them.   He’s waiting on us to just ASK.   

 

With few exceptions, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my life here on Earth, especially because I asked Him for direction every day.   Life is FUN!   Now that doesn’t mean we won’t have to deal with sickness, death, stuff that isn’t fun.   But, when it comes our way, if we ask Him, He’ll help us thru those rough spots in the road.   He PROMISED that in His Word!

 

SHARE THE JOURNEY

 

There is absolutely NO WAY I could have gotten thru life, BY MYSELF.  I’m so fortunate to have a beautiful wife that loves the Lord and we’ve made each other accountable in our nearly 50 years of marriage.

 

I also have a close circle of Christian friends that I call my “accountability partners”.   I go to them when I have a rough spot in the road and need some direction or encouragement.  I’m the same for them.

 

And, make sure you’re involved in your church.   Our lives were never meant to be lived ALONE.   COVID taught us that more than anything else.  

 

STAY IN THE WORD

 

God’s Word will show us the path to go day by day, the answers we need for that day.   It’s CRITICAL to stay in the Word.   My devotional time is during breakfast.   Set your own time, preferably in the morning, so that you set your day up for listening to Him.

 

PRAY

 

Above all, bathe your day in PRAYER at the START of your day.   The days I’ve missed my prayer time as part of my devotional time, it seems I have a rougher day.   Sure, I get thru it, but it’s more chaotic.   

 

We all live this life one day at a time.   The journey is easier when we rely on HIM so we can find STEADY GROUND TODAY WITH CHRIST!