THE VAPOR

While pondering life as a small child, I reasoned that since everyone must inevitably die, it would only be fair that the time from birth to death should be about a million days.

Years later, I discovered that my expectation of life was about forty times too long and that the usual life expectancy is only 25,500 days. Not only will we not live a million days, we will not even live a millions hours!

The Bible says, "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away", (James 4:14). 

Except for this very split instant, your whole life is nothing but memories. Even as you read this sentence, the present is racing into the past at an incredible speed. The instant referred to above has passed into history and can never be brought back. Try as you might , you can do nothing to hinder time.

The earth spins on its axis at the rate of 1,000 miles per hour. The yearly circuit about the sun is accomplished at the velocity of 66,000 miles per hour (1,100 miles per minute).  The richest man cannot purchase so much as a second. Fleeting time will not pause to bow to the strongest earthly king. The allures of the most beautiful woman will not cause time to blink one eye from it's hasty course. Time speeds past so rapidly that our lives appear to be illusions.

Take a few moments and think back to yesterday. Now it is a dream. Whether your reminiscences go back a few minutes or to the dimmest memories of earliest childhood, life's recollections are all as visions of the night. Now it seems but sweet fantasy that I sat in my father's lap as a child. Today my little girl sits in my lap and, God willing, tommorrow, a youngster shall occupy her's. "One generation passeth away and another generation cometh:" (Ecc 1:4) and we are helplessly trapped in the web of life.

THE APPOINTMENT

We cannot avoid the logical and uncomfortable concusion that after our alloted amount of time has passed, we shall cease to exist. Just as no one can slow time, no one can avoid death. Death is the great humbler of all mankind. "It is appointed unto men once to die," (Heb. 9:27) and we cannot alude the awful grip of death. Unless Jesus Christ comes in our generation, every man, woman, boy and girl will die!

Though most people live as if they never intend to die, and attempt to erase all thoughts of dying from their minds, death is an undisputed fact.Graveyards attest to the certainty and finality of death.Death is not pretty. Morticians make their livings by glossing over the immediate effects of death with cosmetics and such, but the process of corruption cannot be halted.

Although King Tut was buried in resplendant glory, with beautiful golden coffins, he himself wrapped in jewel bedecked strips of lien and embalmed by an elaborate process, death performed its ugly chore.His mummified, partially decayed and hideous remains reveal that even Pharoah, with all his riches, could not deter death from its grisly task. Mankind came from dust and will return to dust.

The brief glory of man is aptly described in Isaiah 40:7, where it is written, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass." It is related that Alexander the Great, while reviewing his troops one day, burst into tears, sobbing that even with so much power and so great a host, everyone present would be long dead in only one hundred years.

Death is an individual experience. Everyone shall bridge the gap from life to death totally alone. Mom and Dad will not be able to help you on that day. Your spouse and children may wish they had the power to, but they will not be able to keep you from your appointed journey. Even doctors will stand by helplessly.

Death desires you. It lurks at every corner of life waiting for its chance. It stalks you continually. Every wrinkle in your forehead is a mark of it. Every ache in your body points to death's ultimate victory. Although you may have been rescued from its clutches, someday it shall seize you in its iron grasp. Death will snatch you from out of the land of the living and spirit you into the unknown.

Many try to find comfort in the idea that after death their memory will continue and they will live on people's minds. Regardless of who you are or what you've accomplished, your life will be summarized in a few short lines on the obituary page of a newspaper.Your whole life, with all your struggles, successes and glories, will be epitomized in a few dull lines.

One day after you die, the newspaper will be discarded and foregotten. One year following your death, only a very few people will take time from their own selfish lives to remember you. Fifty years after your demise, your grandchildren may occasionally bring you to mind.

In my community , a wealthy man died some forty five or so years ago. In an effort to keep his memory alive, a statue of his likeness was erected. Today thousands of motorists pass this monument, neither knowing, nor caring, who this man was. No one stops to read his eulogyTo worsen matters, pranksters have, at times, placed hats on his image. The greatest response to the memory of this man and his wealth has been ridicule and laughter.

THE JUDGEMENT

Death is finality. Death ends the "tomorrow" of salvation, that was always on the sinners's mind. Death closes the door of opportunity. "If the tree fall toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be, " (Ecc.11:3) What has been left undone will forevermore be undone. What has been done can never be undone. There will be no opportunity through all eternity to accept a Saviour that was rejected throughtout your life time. At death, the chapter of the books of records concerning your life will be sealed. There will be no pardon, no reprieve and no probation. Either your name is, or is not written in the Lambs Book of Life. One second after death, and it can never be changed.

Answer one question honestly, and you will know wheather or not you are ready for that day. No sane person desires the process of dying, but how do you view the actual moment of death? Will it be the end of all your dreams, hopes and everything you've lived for, or will it be the glorious beginning of eternity? Your very conscience testifies whether or not you are ready.

God created man and implanted within each individual obstacles (conscience and fear of God and His word) that will not allow anyone to blithely and merrily go to hell.

How do you answer the question? All the hell a saved person will ever experience is on this earth. All the heaven a sinner will ever receive is in this life. Will you reign with him whose goings forth have been of old, who was dead and is alive and lives forever more? Will you stand at the right hand of God and be accepted, or will you suffer with that great deceiver who has gained so much acceptance in this day and age? Will you be with the weeping and wailing masses of forever fogotten souls that have been damned to the eternal torement and anguish or a flaming and pitch black hell? Do not think friends or family will be of any comfort there. Should you find one of them, their screams and helpless wails will tear your heart out and make you realize what a fool you were for not accepting Christ and leading your family to salvation.

Hell is eternal and the strongest of men will cry like little lost children. They will have no comfort because, while they had an opportunity, they rejected their Saviour. Dear friend you are still alive and the door of opportunity is still open. Soon it will not be so! Do not trust in the philosophies of today. Vain philosophies and ideas will be of no help when you look into the ghastly gaze of death.

THE WAY

Is God asking too much for you to bow your head and accept what He has already done on the cross for you? The total amount of time involved in receiving salvation is less than thirty seconds.

Compare thirty seconds against all eternity. If you wish to escape the wrath to come, bow your head now.  2 Corinthians 6:2 states, "Now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." Repent of your sins now, accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour now, confess Him before men today. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9, 10)

After having done this, you will want to pray often, read your Bible daily and find a fundamental church to attend regularly.

Remember, life is fleeting. Tomorrow may be too late!  Now is the accepted time--NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION! 

Free Book "Contending for the Faith"

Contending for the Faith is a short simple book written by a layman Mr JC Smith. Originally it was a letter to a Professor who was preaching at their church during a time when there was no Pastor appointed yet. He clearly addresses the plain and simple issues most of the common people would be concerned with when contending for which Bible. Now the books are free but if the Lord leads you to give a donation please follow through as the church footed the bill for the printing and Mr Smith gets nothing for the book.

Please contact MARJORIE C PHILLIPS

SMITH SURVEYORS, INC

6907 CALHOUN MEM HWY STE C

EASLEY SC 29640-3584

Phone 864-859-5729