We are a vapor, here on this earth for just a few seconds in eternity.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (Jas 4:13-14)

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope. Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good. (Job 7:6-7)

Indeed, You have made my days as hand-breadth, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. (Psa 39:5-6)

Born – Died

The day of our birth and the day of our death is not what is important, but the dash in the middle, representing all the things that we do in between those two dates, means everything. Our life here on the earth is not about what we can accumulate or who we can impress with our great knowledge. We were created in Yehovah’s image and have the awesome responsibility is to manifest both His image and His kingdom in the earth through obedience to His instruction given to us through Moses.

Yehovah spoke to Abraham saying, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen 22:18)

Obeying Yehovah’s ways is the only thing that matters in our little dash; every thing else is vanity and worthless.

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” (Ecc 12:7-8)

As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. (Psa 103:15-18)

The writer of Ecclesiastes concludes with what is important for every man – past, present and future. He says,

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecc 12:13-14)

Go to Precept 9