During
the funeral of a friend of mine who lost a battle with cancer, the pastor spoke
of how life is 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 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 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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