Life is a Vapor

In the last two weeks, two families we know both lost a loved one. One was an unborn baby, the other a healthy young man on fire for the Lord. We know both of them are in heaven, but our hearts still cry out, Why, Lord? What good could possibly come out of the loss of two lives like these?

The young man, Micah, was a good friend of my brothers. He was an excellent musician, had an easygoing personality, and was well-liked by all who knew him. He leaves behind four siblings and his parents.

Why?

To this, our heavenly Father gently replies, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways" (Isaiah 55:8). Even though we cannot understand why He would allow such things, He is still in control. His promises are still true. He covers us with His wings and comforts us, even in the midst of terrible tragedy and suffering. He is with us every step of the way.



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 He is our refuge, our strength, a very present help (Psalm 46:1).  He knows the anguish of our souls (Psalm 31:7) and looks down on us with pity, as a Father who comforts His children.

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As someone once said, "The truth of God's love is not that He allows bad things to happen, it's His promise that He'll be there with us when they do."

 

In 1873, American lawyer Horatio Spafford received news that the ship carrying his wife and four daughters had sunk while en route to England. All four of Spafford's daughters perished. Even though overcome with grief, Spafford did not lose sight of his Saviour and His precious promises, penning the words that have comforted many believers. Because Spafford knew his Lord, he could say, "It is well with my soul."

When Elisabeth Elliot received the call that her husband Jim and his companions were missing in the jungle, the following passage came to her mind:

"When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee; and through the rivers,

they shall not overwhelm thee: when thou

walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be

burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel,

thy Saviour."

Isaiah 43:2-3a

 

No one or nothing can change that promise. Not even the most horrible circumstances. The Lord will always be with us -- to strengthen us and comfort us even when we are battered by the wind and rain, and feel like we cannot take another step.

 

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It is in times like these when we realize how fleeting life is. We read passages like James 4:14 and Psalms 144:4, but their meaning does not sink in until we go through something like this.

 

Life is so precious, dear ones, and we have no guarantee of how long it will last. All we have right now is this very minute. We do not know what will happen in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, or the next year.

 

Are we living in light of this fact? Are we redeeming the time for our Lord? Are we living life to the fullest, serving Him and seeking to do wholly of His good pleasure? It is so easy to get caught up in the carefree, fun-loving culture we live in -- a culture that lives only for the present, not in light of eternity. Your life right now is only a pinpoint on the timeline of eternity, and we often forget that there are only three things that will last forever: Christ, people, and the Word of God.

 

That's it.

 

May our prayer be that of Moses in Psalm 90:

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Only what we do for Christ will last. Oh, that we may have a heart for seeking the lost and serving Christ.

 

Please pray for the S family and the B family -- that the Lord would comfort them, that His will would be done, and that others would be led to Christ through the testimony of their lives. We are so thankful we know where Micah and the baby are today, and we know that someday soon, Lord willing, we will be reunited with them in heaven forever.