"Vapors"

Passage: James 4:14

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes."

I get all "misty"...

The first time I ever read the verse, James 4:14, was during the Spring of 1985.  I remember that moment as if it were yesterday.  I'd like to tell you that it was because of the profound impact that the temporary nature of life had upon me... but it wasn't that.  I'd love to tell you that I received divine inspiration, and a greater revelation of the Word... but it wasn't that either.  No, the only reason I remember this verse so clearly, is that the young lady giving the devotion was just about as gorgeous a girl as I had ever seen!  And as she shared this verse as being one that was perhaps her favorite... I instantly (involuntarily) willed it to be my favorite, too.  (By the way... I ended up marrying that girl, and in just over a week from the date of this writing, we will celebrate our 12 anniversary!)

Since that time, I have read and processed this passage of Scripture hundreds of times.  As I come across this verse in my devotionals, I pray that the Lord would help me to apply it on that very day.  As I prepare sermons that may include this verse, I pray that the correlation is relevant to others.  And on this day... the verse has an entirely different significance.

As I write these words, a very dear friend of mine, Chuck Hart, is lying in a hospital bed in Davenport, Iowa.  Just 2 days ago, Chuck was driving to Michigan from his home in Nebraska, when for reasons yet unknown, his vehicle flipped, and was hit by a semi-truck.  I got the call to notify me of the accident, and the very real likelihood that Chuck would not make it through the day, just a few hours later.

Now, in and of itself, that is a sad story.  But to grasp the depth of the scene, one must know a little more about Chuck.  To know him, in my opinion, is to love him.  He always had a smile on his face, and hope in his heart.  You see, Chuck is a clown.  No, really... I mean he's a REAL clown!  You know... the kind with the white face and red nose.  And he's a good clown!  I mean that he's good at being a good clown.

I've known him for years, and though we've discussed many of the deep, and sometimes painful things of life together... I've never seen his faith in the Lord, or in his fellow man, falter.  He is the eternal optimist, which, perhaps makes the picture of him lying in a hospital bed, a shattered back, damage to his heart, lungs and skull all the more difficult to imagine.

As I ponder how one goes from point to point in life, I keep coming back to the verse in James: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes.  I am quite certain that as Chuck woke up, and prepared himself for the drive ahead just a couple of days ago, the thought of fighting for life and teetering on the brink of eternity was not on his list of things to do that day.

Knowing Chuck as I do, however, I would not at all be surprised to hear that in his preparation for the day, he most likely met with the Lord in a time of personal devotion, during which time he likely asked the Lord to accomplish His (the Lord's) will in his (Chuck's) life on that day.  And even as he stepped out the door, and got into his 1967 Toyota Land Rover, I imagine Chuck had a song in his heart, and a purpose for the day.  Little did he, or any of us - his friends and family - know, that what lay ahead could quite possibly turn out to be the challenge of his life.

Personal Application

Friends, no one has a lease on life.  No one knows if today will be the last day of your earthly existence.  But James received a pearl of wisdom from the Lord, and conveyed it to us through the passage we are considering today.  Life on earth is temporary.  In the grand scheme of things, the time we spend here on earth is but a drop in the limitless ocean of eternity.

And one thing is also sure: there is an eternity!  We know this to be true because of the time Jesus Himself invested in teaching about the kingdoms of both Heaven, and Hell.  There is a statistic... one out of every one...dies.  There is coming a day when each and every one of us will bow, and our tongues will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  And following that profession of truth, there will be Judgment.

During the time that you are here on this earth, what are you doing to affect eternity?  How are you planning your days?  And are you prepared to meet the Lord, should it be you that I write about in my next devotional?  Have you asked the Lord to be your Savior?

You can make your life right with the Lord, right here... right now.  I invite you to pray the prayer at the end of this devotional with me, and receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.  Trust Him for your eternity!  He is good to His Word!  For more information about making such a decision, click here.

As of this writing, it's been 2 days since the accident, and Chuck has amazed doctors and family members with remarkable reason for encouragment.  He is by no means out of the woods yet, but he's overcome major hurdles to date.  He did not die on Monday... a significant turn of events.  He was thought to be attempting communication with doctors and family by blinking his eyes at first, and the confirmed those attempts by actually moving a hand, and lifting an arm!  Perhaps one of the most significant reports came when it was told that Chuck actually moved one of his feet on demand!  Doctors were amazed at this, given the nature of his crushed vertebrae.  I believe that we have seen miraculous intervention, which could explain these reports.

Should he survive, Chuck will require at least one surgery to stabilize his back, and months of recovery and therapy to prepare him for life in a wheelchair.  Can the Lord continue to heal him, even to the point of not requiring the chair?  Sure He can!  But is has been, and will continue to  be my prayer that His (The Lord's) will be done in Chuck's life... and I will praise Him in every case!

I have purposely left links to Chuck Hart's website, and photos, etc. out of the text of this devotional, to preserve continuity.  However, if you would like to know more about my friend, and read wonderful stories about how he once survived a plane crash, or traveled to Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) to be a missionary delivering Bibles, or just see pictures of "Chukels the Magical Clown", then follow the links provided here.  You can even send him an e-mail, and though I am quite sure it will be a while before he is able to receive and/or answer them... I know it would mean much to him to hear of your prayers and support!  Tell him Eric sent you!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I have sinned, and fallen short of your glory.  I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that He has been raised from the dead.  Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and wash me white as snow.  Help me to live a life that brings You honor and glory, and prepare my heart for an eternity with You.  I ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life, and submit to His authority.  I receive You now, through faith and by Your grace, and will serve you all the days of my life!  This I pray, believing in Jesus' name, amen.

Take me back to The Trickster Talks Teen! Take me back to the Lighthouse. Take me to other devotionals by Eric Reamer. Take me to Eric's list of favorite devotional writers.  Take me Back to Eric's Main Page.

Eric Reamer is an evangelist, and full time Christian Illusionist. If you enjoy this devotional, please e-mail Eric at: Eric@IllustratedIllusions.com.