Saturday, February 16, 2019
James 4:14 What is your life?
KEY QUESTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR (6)
"What is my life?" is often asked in just that way. It's my life, and I can do with it what I want. It's pretty much like saying, I am my own God, and no one can tell me what to think or what to do. It's the lie that Satan told Eve: If you disobey God and eat of the tree you can be your own god.
There's a part of us, even as Christians, that loves to believe that lie. Our sinful nature wants to do its own thing and leave God completely out of our lives.
But let me read our question from James in its fuller context: 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.
You and I are a mist. Like exhaled breath on a February day, we are here on earth only for a short moment before we vanish away forever.
We have seventy years, the Bible says, or maybe 80 if we have the strength. Not very long. It all goes so fast. One day the cord of life is cut, and there we are, face to face with God Almighty, the Judge of all mankind. With a most serious heart and mind we need to make Moses' prayer our own, where he prays: TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM.
Yes, God has given us a life, but it's not ours to do with as we see fit.
What is your life? Your life on earth is a time of grace God gives you so that you may come to know Him as your Lord and Savior.
What is your life? It's a life created by God and a life redeemed by God. You are not your own. You were bought at a price. At the cost of Christ's shed blood, you belong to God, body and soul.
What is your life? It's a life in which you have the great privilege of serving Your Savior God with all that you have and all that you are!
