Just a vapor...

This afternoon I did the funeral for a precious baby girl who lived just 48 hours outside of her mommy's womb.  It was a difficult yet beautiful service as we celebrated the fact that little Lily Bug was in the arms of Jesus in a place where there was no pain, where the suffering that certainly would have been a part of her life because of her medical condition (trisomy 18) would never be experienced, and where she would be forever embraced by the Lord, free from the ugliness and sin that is so much a part of our world.  We looked to the Lord and in Him we found grace and strength, comfort and care as He embraced Lily's parents and family.  It was one of those services that I as a pastor struggle to perform, yet find such blessing in doing as I minister the grace the God.

In preparing for the service, I sat at my computer contemplating what James wrote in the fourth chapter and fourteenth verse of his epistle, Your life is but a vapor, here for a moment then vanishes away.  As I thought of those words, I remembered a phrase I've often considered -- You have but one life to live, so live it well.  What an incredible statement of challenge and import.

I live in what I tend to think of as a protected world.  While I am surrounded by the world and all of its ugliness, much of my life is lived within the insulation of the church -- separated from the ugliness of sin and the brokenness that affects so much of humanity.  But in that protected world, I often get glimpses of how painfully short real life can be.  The temptation is to live as if we have forever to make right choices and to choose Christ.  But the reality is this -- we have this moment -- and our next is not guaranteed or assured.  Our lives truly are but a vapor, here for a moment then vanishes away.

So how are you living the time that God has given you?  Have you put Jesus before everything so that your life is full and filled with His presence, peace, and grace?  Or are you struggling to find your way?  Lily Bug reminded me today that I have this moment -- and I challenge you to live it to its full in Christ with me!