Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14)

Making Plans

What is life? The Lord created life as a vapor. Adam lived to be 930 years old, but it was still a vapor. He died in the same manner that all men die. It must be clear that all men die without exception. There are only two men recorded in history that did not experience death. Enoch and Elijah did not enter glory through the grave, but they “died” from the world. They left behind friends and family. No matter how hard humanity tries to extend life, death comes to all men.

Every time a man dies, plans are interrupted. There is something to be accomplished for that day, the next day, and possibly the coming months or years, but they are forever set aside. Death is the enemy of all the desires of a man’s heart to climb the ladder a little higher or gain one more level of prestige, or to go to a far country. It is sudden and without warning. Those left behind pick up the shattered pieces. Life changes for everyone. Death has taken away the energy of the individual. A vacuum spreads through the heart. Plans are destroyed.

There has never been a guarantee of tomorrow. When Cain killed Abel, the lesson was taught that life is short and circumstances can change. Adam and Eve’s world was turned upside down. Abel had other plans for his life. Cain destroyed those plans. Life continued. Everyone killed in the days of Noah had thoughts of tomorrow. They were laughing and playing and thinking life would never end. Suddenly, a day came when the heavens broke forth with water, and the recesses of the deep surged over the earth. Those outside the ark ran to high ground, climbed the highest trees, and scaled the tallest mountains. Life for them came to an end as the flood destroyed them all. No one survived outside the ark.

Death changed the world of Noah and his family. When they left the ark, there were only eight people on the face of the earth. The world is filled again with humanity, and the pursuit of tomorrow has regained its place in the hearts of men who believe they will live forever. They act as if they will never die. And they do. Making plans for tomorrow is vanity. Death is the great robber of time and energy. No one can stand in its way. Jesus did not come to take away death. He conquered the fear of death so that men could see that life is short, but upon that brief time, their eternal soul depends.

The Lord did not suggest that anyone should not make plans for tomorrow. He wants men to know that making plans for this world is vanity, but making plans for the world to come is necessary. This life will end. The life that is to come is without end: eternal. All men die, and after that, the judgment. God created man in His image as an eternal creature that will never cease to exist. When someone dies, they are happy or filled with horror. Most people are screaming in terror because they did not prepare for eternity. The saved are those who prepared themselves for death. Jesus took the fear of death away from them to live for the eternal tomorrow. The child of God knows that all things in this world are temporary. His tomorrow is in the presence of God. It is that thought that plans are made and prayers offered. Come, Lord, Jesus. Come.