For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14 (NKJV))

As we start a new year, let’s take a moment to consider the brevity of life. Bottom line: it’s short.

Sure, when you were a kid, the days seemed to drag on forever. I have a distinct memory of watching the clock in eleventh-grade English class. The minutes ticked by ever so slowly. Each time I looked up, I expected it to be close to the end. Yet, only a few minutes had gone by.

As you get older though, the days, months, and years start to zoom by, barely waiting for you to catch your breath. Before you know it, decades have slipped past.

This life is short. And it’s even shorter if you look at it in comparison to eternity. Even if you live a long life and make it to be over 100 years old, 100 years compared to forever is really, really brief. “Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalm 39:5 (NKJV)).

So, let’s remind ourselves that we only have a limited time here on Earth. Let’s be like the psalmist who asked God to “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)).

And as we realize that life is short, let’s commit to using our time wisely. It’s so easy to waste our lives on frivolous things. We get sidetracked by things that won’t last into eternity. When we’re focused on ourselves, we tend to prioritize entertainment and comfort. We need wisdom to know how we should be spending our time so we can glorify God.

The Bible compares the things we do to gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12). One day our works will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). The fire will reveal what kind of works they were.

If they were works you did for yourself – wood, hay, or straw – the fire will consume them. But if the works were done for Jesus – gold, silver, and precious stones – they will survive the testing (1 Corinthians 3:14–15). As they say, only what’s done for Christ will last.

So, as we enter into 2024, take time to ask God what He wants you to do with your life. He’s prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Seek God first this year (Matthew 6:33) and abide in Jesus every day (John 15:4). Don’t waste your short life. Purpose in your heart to glorify God as you walk by faith with Him.

Photo by Sage Friedman on Unsplash