14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Here is a story that could happen — A group of workplace believers meet at an office every week for fellowship, study, and prayer. One man attended the group for several years. He was well liked and in good health. One Thursday he showed up as usual. The next morning there was a call, “Jim is dead! He died in his easy chair last night!” This man had no prior problems and there was no indication he was about to go be with the Lord. Naturally, it came as a shock.
Whenever things like this happen close to home, it brings us face to face with our mortality. Challenge yourself to do an experiment. Challenge yourself to live life for one year as if it were the last year you would live. It will change your life forever. You will begin to focus on different priorities and people when you view life in these terms.
James gives us a perspective on viewing tomorrow.
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Life is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. Someone once said they had never heard anyone on his deathbed say that he wished he had made more money in his lifetime or he wished he had made a certain deal. Usually it is something like, “I wish I had spent more time with the Lord or my kids or my family.” Ask the Lord to give you His priorities for your life.
