MT. Ivy Christian Church
By Steve Pasley, Associate Minister, Resident Moneta, 24121

          Some of the most beautiful things in this world are very short-lived. Sunsets are a perfect example.  Sunlight on the evening clouds produces breathtaking shades of orange, red, and purple.  But within an hour or so, even the most gorgeous of sunsets fades into darkness.  The same can well be said of human life.  As beautiful as life may be, it lasts but a moment, and then is gone.  The writer James, in his letter to early Christians, explained how this sobering reality should impact us.
          Some people in James’ day were making great plans for the future, but he called them to a serious “reality check.”  They spoke of moving to other cities and conducting business for the next year, but they could not even predict what would happen tomorrow.  In fact, they had no way of knowing whether they would still be alive tomorrow!  „For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).  We must make plans, but we must also admit that they are only tentative.  Why?  Because our lives and plans are really in the hands of God.  So James writes, “Ye ought to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that‚” (James 4:15).  Your life will not continue, and your dreams will never be fulfilled, apart from God’s will!  Do you remember that as you consider the future?
          And since our lives are so brief and unpredictable, have you prepared for the day when your earthly life will end?  Our only hope of avoiding hell is to have our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus.  Acts 2:38 reveals how we can do that.  Not knowing what tomorrow holds, will you wait another day and risk dying without the forgiveness which only Christ can provide?