The Vapor-Rich Life

Today, as I drove along my usual winding path (that is the only escape-route out of my apartment complex), I passed several of the same landmarks that I always do. But today was different because God spoke to my heart as I drove. You see, at one point in my journey, I passed by a church on my left side and simultaneously passed a funeral home on my right side. It may be a stretch of your imagination to go here with me; but in my mind and in my car-ride, I felt a tension between life and death in those few moments on the stretch of road winding between the two buildings.  [I would dare say if you were riding shotgun in the passenger’s seat, you may have felt the same thing.]

Why?

Well, a church building is a symbol of hope and life, amongst others. While a funeral home is nothing short of a symbol of death. (It reminded me of the passage in Deuteronomy 30:15-19, where life and death are sitting in front of God's people as a choice to be made; and God urges them to choose life, so that future generations may live.) On the road between the two, God reminded me today that life on Earth is oh-so-fragile. It is a vapor. It’s quick. It’s fast. It’s not meant to last. This Earth is definitely not a long-term destination. For anyone.

This has been especially evident to my heart, mind, and life recently.

Within the past couple of weeks, life has hit me by surprise. (An interesting expression, I know… as if I’m the one in control of planning all of life…) But it’s true that if you’re anything like me, we always plan for life to go one way; and when it turns out completely different, we always feel surprised. Sometimes, unnerved or shocked. Sometimes, overwhelmingly blessed. But always, always surprised.

Within the past couple of weeks, a dear missionary friend, in her early twenties, got word that her father had a heart attack and passed from life here on Earth to life in Heaven with Jesus. Just. Like. That. Such a sweet, Godly man he was here on Earth. He added so much laughter and life to those that knew him. His love for the Lord wasn’t just evident in his life. It was his life. He was the real deal. Waves of grieving have definitely swept across lives due to the loss of this amazing man, but I can just imagine the dancing that accompanied his arrival into Heaven.

A couple days to a week later, I heard a precious student of mine, one I had taught in my very first year of teaching at LCA nearly six years ago, had taken his own life. No explanation. No note. And he passed from life here on Earth to life in Heaven with Jesus. Just. Like. That. Such a sweet child with a happy heart. A precious soul that professed Christ as his Savior from an early age. (I can still hear his little belly-giggle, as if he were still a 9-year-old in my classroom.) Hurt and questions linger here on Earth, but happiness, hope, and answers fill up the Heavens, as Braxton walks with Jesus now. Literally.

Without the hope we have in Jesus, these two situations would be simply incomprehensible, inescapable, and immobilizing to dwell upon. But with Jesus as the only true Hope this world has, we can rest assured that there is more to come – so much more to come – after this vapor of life called Earth has run its course.

Not really related to that is this:

Quite a few years ago, I went through this time period where I sincerely wondered what I was doing with my life. My college was coming to an end, and I just didn’t know what the next steps “should” be. I think everyone comes to that point in life (especially in the midst of your young-to-mid-twenties). It was during that time that God not just showed me this verse, but truly taught my heart experientially what it meant. The verse is John 10:10b, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Even now, as I look closer at that verse, I realize that the entire verse reveals more of a truth than just part of it does. John 10:10, in its entirety, reads like this, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

There are so may unexpected events that happen (and will continue to happen) within the course of our lives here on Earth. The thief (a.k.a. Satan) will do everything in his power to steal, to kill, and to destroy things in your life. And sometimes, he may be seemingly successful in one arena or another in your life or in the lives of the ones you love, but know this: Jesus came to give life. Abundant life. Life-to-its-fullest. Even amidst surprises and shock and loss and death, Jesus brings life, hope, and a reason to keep on going.

No matter what has hit your life/heart recently, remember this to be true: Life is a vapor, yes. But every-single-moment is a miracle.

Every breath is a grace-act of God on your behalf, to let you keep going and keep living out His plan and His purposes for your life.

Every day is a day He’s made for us to rejoice and be glad in it.

Today, no matter what unplanned scenes have entered your life, choose to give thanks to God in the good.

Beckon Him in the bad.

Communicate with Christ amidst the common.

Tell others about your struggles, but also don’t forget to share with them that victory always comes through the Savior Who delights in giving us abundant life.

Life is frail, sometimes touch-and-go, and like a vapor.

Life with Christ is always, always, always vapor-rich. 

Circumstances may be different, but the choice for all of us is the same.

We don't choose how much time we're given here on Earth, but we can choose how to live the amount of time and life we are graced with.

Choose life. The abundant kind that Christ came to offer.

Choose to live out your calling and abundant life in Christ, so that Christ may be glorified and so that future generations may live.