#654  JUST LIKE A VAPOR

Excerpt from sermon #334 THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THIS LIFE

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away,” James 4:14. 

Our life is compared to a vapor to teach the uncertainties of a life outside of Christ. That life outside of Christ is as empty as anything can be.

We read in 1 John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” We dwell in Christ, and He dwells in us.

Does this preach meritorious works? No, it teaches the harmony we have with the Lord Jesus Christ. How can we say that we are in harmony with the Lord Jesus Christ, and we do not keep His commandments?

That spirit is harmony of purpose. That Spirit of Christ is a mental disposition. That is preferring others ahead of ourselves. It is a spirit of sacrifice.

Our text in its context warns of setting our hearts on the uncertain things of this life for a future in this world. We do not find a future in this world. If our hearts are set in this world we are out of harmony with the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless Christ is formed in us as the hope of glory, we are reprobate.

James 4:13-15 teaches us: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

I need to tell a little incident that happened not too long ago. My secretary had gotten into the habit of saying, “The Lord willing I will see you in the morning.” I have trained that this be the language that takes place in our office. One morning she came to work and said: “The Lord was willing. I am here.”

I did not understand what she meant, but later in the day I saw a bruise on the side of her head, and I asked what happened. She started trembling as she told me: “The Lord was willing. I am here. My husband and I were teaching a mule to lead. He would not come, so my husband had me go in front and hold the rope while he went behind to give him a nudge. The mule reared up, and I moved over enough that his hooves just grazed the side of my head.” She backed up enough too that his hooves grazed her shoulder and down her front. If the mule’s hooves had hit her on her shoulders it would have killed her just as surely as if they had hit her on the head.

Sometimes we do not realize how easily our lives can be taken away. We do not realize how our lives are as a vapor that they can be taken away in an instant.

What should this impress upon our hearts? The Lord Jesus tells us to be at all times ready because we do not know in what hour He will come. We read in Matthew 24:46: “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” When He comes He finds us doing His will.

We do not have such a big empire to build in this world. As we see this year come to a close, and we see the door of a new year opening, let me tell you, Our economy is not rosy. Our government is not rosy. This earth is not rosy. We cannot build a big future in this life, but we know that our time is as a vapor. For a little time it appears, and then it vanishes.

We do not know what another year may bring forth, so we see in James 4:15-16: “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

We must see the brevity of our time,  Are we ready? We do not know that we will have a tomorrow. The Lord Jesus tells us to be ready. Amen.

I need Thee ev’ry hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly, and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee ev’ry hour, teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises in me fulfil.
I need Thee ev’ry hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Annie S. Hawks, 1672

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