Life’s Unexpected Turn - Martin Wiles

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14 NLT

When they got out of bed that morning, none expected life’s unexpected turn.  

The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 people who were killed on American Airlines Flight 77 and inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Small illuminated concrete benches—representing each of the victims--are arranged so that reading a Pentagon victim’s name requires facing the Pentagon, while reading a plane victim’s name requires facing the direction the plane was traveling. 

Regardless of their ages or life circumstances, none of the victims expected terrorists to board their plane and direct it into the side of the Pentagon. Nor did those working in the Pentagon expect a plane to shatter their building.

Fog wasn't the issue that day. Terrorists were. Yet, fog can pose problems when flying. Thankfully, morning fogs generally only hang around until the sun burns them away. 

My wife and I once flew out of August, Georgia, on our way to see friends in Denver, Colorado. Our flight was delayed because of a thick layer of fog blanketing the area. Although it seemed as if we waited forever, we were only delayed one hour.

Life is like a fog. It doesn’t hang around long, and it often takes unexpected turns. Even if I’m fortunate to live into my nineties, my life is comparatively brief. What I need to do, I need to do now. 

The most important thing for anyone is to trust Christ as their Savior. But there are other things we also need to do. Deciding to trust Christ will assure us of heaven, but we may be on earth for quite some time, so other decisions affect our futures here.

When Jesus said he came to give abundant life, he wasn’t talking about life in heaven but rather life on earth. Obeying God’s commands and making serving Christ the centerpiece of our lives will usher in a type of existence that everyone searches for—but typically in the wrong places.

Spending time on endeavors that will outlast our lives makes sense. We can leave writings or spiritual journals. We can teach honorable trades or a Sunday school class. We can also leave an example that will affect our children, grandchildren, and others. But we only have a brief time to do it. Soon our lives will lift like the fog.

Decide to do something that will outlive your brief life.

Father, help me to live each day with purpose, so that when my brief life ends, I can die knowing I have served You and others well. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Living like a Fog - Martin Wiles

Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14b NLT

No one said living like a fog was easy.

The fog rolled in, but not because outside cold air collided with warm air. Our rented house reeked with age—constructed in the early 1900s. Although not exceptionally spacious, the ceilings boasted of their height, and the owner had decided to put only a tiny amount of insulation in the attic area. Summers proved pleasant. Since the house was not airtight, an atmosphere of freshness pervaded.

But winters told another story. Cold air seeped through every crack and crevice. We could only afford to set the thermostat at sixty-two degrees, which meant we stayed bundled up all the time. Even on that low temp, our electricity bill was almost unbearable.

Taking a shower during the cold months brought the fog from outside into our house. The hot water collided with the cold air in the house, creating a thick fog in the small bathroom and covering the small window above the sink, making it impossible to see. Within minutes of turning off the shower, however, the fog dissipated.

When taking a shower recently during a Canadian cold snap, I thought of that old house and the good times my wife and I had there, despite the frigid interior. I also thought about my life. I remembered the Tennessee summers when I was a middle schooler and how they seemed to last forever. My friends and I played outside until dark—almost nine p.m.—letting our imaginations run wild. Time seemed to last forever.

Now, at almost retirement age, I know I have more years behind me than in front of me. What seemed to once pass slowly now passes quickly. Although I know my eternity ahead is long—and I’m sure where I will spend it—time on earth seems short. Like a fog, it is quickly disappearing.

James reminds us life is like a fog. God may give us many years on earth, but compared to eternity, they are brief.

We only have enough time to love God, love our families, love others, and love ourselves. And in the process, only enough time to do God’s will. When younger, I didn’t think about the impact I’d leave behind after my death—but I do now. With intentionality, I attempt to do only those things God wants me to do—things that will continue to impact others after I’m dead and gone. After all, this fog will lift.

What are you doing that will impact others after you have left this earth? Are you living like a fog?

Prayer: Father, give us the grace and wisdom to live with intentionality, knowing our lives are brief. 

Tweetable: Are you living life like a fog? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Life’s Unexpected Turns - Martin Wiles

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14 NLT

When they got out of bed that morning, none knew their lives would end that day. 

The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 people who were killed on American Airlines Flight 77 and inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Small illuminated concrete benches—representing each of the victims, are arranged so that reading a Pentagon victim’s name requires facing the Pentagon while reading a plane victim’s name requires facing the direction the plane was traveling. 

Regardless of their ages or life circumstances, none of the victims expected terrorists to board their plane and direct it into the side of the Pentagon. Nor did those working in the Pentagon expect a plane to enter their building. 

Morning fogs generally only hang around until the sun burns them away. My wife and I once flew out of August, Georgia, on our way to see friends in Denver, Colorado. Our flight was delayed because of a thick layer of fog blanketing the area. Though it seemed as if we waited forever, we were only delayed one hour. 

Life is like a fog. It doesn’t hang around long. Even if I’m one of the fortunate ones who lives into my nineties, my life is comparatively brief. What I need to do, I need to do now. The most important thing is to trust Christ as my Savior. But there are other things I don’t need to put off. Deciding to trust Christ will assure me of heaven, but I may be on earth for quite some time, so there are other decisions that affect my future here. 

When Jesus said He came to give abundant life, He wasn’t talking about life in heaven but rather life lived on earth. Obeying God’s commands and making serving Christ the centerpiece of my life will usher in a type of existence that everyone is searching for—but usually in the wrong places. 

Spending time on endeavors that will outlast my life just makes sense. I can leave behind articles and devotions on the web. I can leave behind spiritual journals. I can teach honorable trades or a Sunday school class. I can also leave an example that will affect my children, grandchildren, and others. But I only have a brief time to do it. Soon my life will lift like the fog.

Decide to do something that will outlive your brief life.

Prayer: Father, help us live each day with purpose so that when our short lives are over we can die satisfied that we served You and others well. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.