James 4:14 For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Mist is tiny droplets of water hanging in the air. Meteorologists say that in general though, fog develops overnight and dissipates (mixes out) in the early morning sunlight hours. The Bible describes the life of a man as a mist! The most powerful kings and kingdoms have come and gone. The pomp and glory of the Egyptian, Turkish and Ottoman, Persian, Roman, Russian and British empires have all died overtime. Their power weakened when their leaders died and their control was loosened. Likewise, our life is only a fading mist.
Mist/fog is the closest metaphor to a human perception. In foggy conditions, the far away objects look attractive to our eyes. It is the same with humans as well, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’. The closer the object the darker it will be. Hence the challenges, problems and issues that are engrossed in our mind will appear to be dark and dangerous. This creates the contrast between the present problems and future hope. Once we understand that we are only a mist and in the middle of a fog we must not be perturbed by problems or puffed at the peak of accomplishments. Both crisis and success are only temporary fog that will dissipate once the sun comes out.
This life is temporal and is only a passing cloud. 97% of the things we worry about never happen, says Dr. Charles Black. They are the effect of the closet object in a foggy condition. The more we think about a problem the more monstrous it gets. Remember we are only a vapour and our challenges are also just a temporary mist. Don’t make permanent decisions during a temporary crisis.
Life on earth is only a mist:
1. Temporal: Both the pomp and the problem are only temporal. The promotion, success or power is temporary and so are the test, tempest, and trial. Take permanent lessons from temporary squalls. Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine. We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Don’t be latched to the temporary.
2. Integral: It is very important that troubles and tempests should not alter our values, belief and faith. Our faith walk must not be tampered by an elevation or demotion. Both will pass away like a mist.
3. Functional: In the short span of life that we have on earth, which will vanish like the mist, live purposefully. ‘A man without a sense of purpose, even one whose bank account is stuffed with money, is always a small man.’ – Stephen King. Make the life that is only a mist useful, purposeful and functional.
Our life on earth is only a vapour or a mist. So don’t be hooked to the temporary and tangible world.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” Says the preacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless”.
Prayer: Father God, please help this truth to sink deep into my heart. Everything tangible is temporary. May my heart be hooked on to the eternal. Amen.
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