During the funeral of a friend of mine who lost a
battle with cancer, the pastor spoke of how life short. It is simply a mist or vapor in the span of
time. He used an aerosol spray to demonstrate this. The mist is visible for
only seconds and then disappears. Several minutes after the visible signs of
the mist had disappeared; I could smell a hint of lilacs from my seat near the
middle of the church. The aroma from the aerosol spray had invisibly spread
across the room and reached to where I was sitting. It was a light and sweet
smell. Although I could no longer see the mist, the aroma was present.
In that moment I thought of the life we had joined
together to remember. She had been a very sweet and loving woman. As a teacher
she had poured love into her students. She had raised her own children well and
she had been a strong and loving companion to her husband. Friends all had
wonderful memories of her. As I breathed in that scent of lilacs, I considered
how hints of her life would continue to ripple out for years and even
generations to come. She may now be in heaven, but the love that she showed and
the lessons she taught will live on here through those who knew her best. Not
only her family and friends, but generations to come will be affected by the
choices of this amazing woman.
Compared to the vastness of God and eternity our
life is but a brief mist. “Yet you do not know [the least
thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are
[really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a
little while and then disappears [into thin air].” (James
4:14 AMP) This time that we spend on
earth is so short compared to what we will have in eternity. Problems and
trials we endure are small when placed beside the blessings of living with God
forever.
The choices we make in this short life will have an impact that will last
far beyond our moment here on earth. The same Bible that speaks of our life
being yet a mist also speaks of our effect on generations to come. “…for
I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, But
showing mercy and steadfast
love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus
20:5-6 AMP) Our actions, whether positive or negative, will affect our
descendants. There is so much mercy in this
statement. The negative effects of the sin
of those who hate Him go to the third and fourth generations. The blessings for our obedience to God will effect
a thousand generations. God promises mercy and steadfast love to the children
of those who love Him.
I had only known my friend for a couple of years,
but she has had an impact on my life. I know the impact she had on others was
far greater. The aroma she left behind will be present and experienced by one
thousand generations of her descendants.
Everyone she has influenced to love God and follow His commandments will
also be passing on blessings to one thousand generations of their descendants. Her spiritual influence has been
exponentially positive.
We all have a many choices to make during our
lifetime. We can choose to focus on the current moment of this life here on
earth. In this
viewpoint, problems are magnified. We can remember that
our life is but a mist, and live in a way that our scent will be fragrant and
bring enjoyment to many generations to come. As Scripture states, “For
we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible
alike] among those who are being saved and
among those who are perishing:” (2 Corinthians 2:15 AMP) This reference to a fragrance is as brief as
an exhale. However brief, it is sweet and impactful.
Choose today to see her life as it surely is; a wisp
of vapor or mist. Choose also what your mist will leave behind for those to
come. Choose well!
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