Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
James 4:14

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. Who is not familiar with this popular nursery rhyme from our childhood? I had not given the phrase “life is but a dream” much thought until I heard it mentioned in a movie during a funeral scene years ago. It was an eye-opening moment and my impression of the rhyme has never been the same.

During my prayer time this morning, those words dropped in my spirit. Clearly, as I began to meditate, this metaphor spoke in volumes. This rhyme ministers today as it refers to one traveling and persevering despite any problems or difficulties along the journey and to persist with determination joyfully because our life is regarded as having an equivalent value as that of a dream, an occurrence that we experience during sleep, which is like a vapor. A vapor is matter that is visible in the air as mist, clouds, or smoke which can dissipate; disappear and fade quickly.

The scripture today asked a question, “for what is your life?” Our life is even as a vapor that appears and then it is gone. In the book of James, it is so wonderfully written that nothing is permanent and certainly not our life here on this earth; making good use of our time because honestly, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34). We have enough to be concerned with in this day, that we cannot be concerned with tomorrow is what he is saying. We cannot predict tomorrow for it’s not promised and the future on this earth is unknown to us, however, the good news is that we as the children of God, do know where our hope lies; not in the things of this world.

At any given time, our plans could easily be cut off or could possibly fail. It is important that they be continuously in line with the will of God and we must work the work of Him who has sent us while it is day, as long as we are in the world. Why? Because our days upon the earth are as a shadow and we must spend it wisely and working His purpose and His plan for our lives because honestly, only what we do for Christ is going to last. What legacy will you leave? What will be said of the life you’ve lived? What accomplishments will be noted? Whose life did you speak life into? Did you encourage someone along the way? Did your life exemplify Jesus?

No one will live a perfect and wonderful life in every way, yet we do strive to live in perfection as Christ has called us, before our time, like a vapor, has vanished away; doing it merrily with joy and with the love of the Lord as we sojourn along this journey called life.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily... life is but a dream.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, Deut 7:6-8a

When I hear the word treasure, it reminds me of all the movies I’ve seen and the stories I’ve read that deal with finding treasures in the Sahara, or pirate ships searching for hidden and lost wealth in oversized trunks with gold spilling over. As entertaining and as fascinating as the stories are, these treasures are not to be compared to who we are in God’s eyes, His special treasure that is much more valuable than any tangible treasure that man could ever find.

We are a special people, a special treasure unto Him created for His purpose; someone who is of high value and very precious in His sight. The scripture tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (I Peter 2:9-10). I’m so grateful that He loved us enough to engraft us into His family and we are now considered the sons of God (I John 3:1).

Have you thought about how blessed we are and that God doesn’t look on us or choose us as man would. Man would look for certain qualities that are appealing to the eye and looking only from a natural standpoint; missing most times the beauty that comes from within. God sees the heart of the people He’s chosen and loves us in spite of who we are, what we look like, or where we’ve come from because we are all wonderfully and marvelously made. He’s not concerned with our social status, how much or how little we have, or the color of our skin seeing that He is not a respecter of persons. He chose us simply ... because He loves us.

Because He has chosen me and set His love upon me, I also have a responsibility in this relationship. A treasure is taken care of because of its extreme value and this is what the Lord does for us. When we love and value someone, we promise to cherish, we promise to be faithful, we promise to honor, we promise to take care of and we promise to hold in high esteem or regard. There has to be accountability when we make a pledge to the one we say we love. God has done that and is faithful in keeping His word in regards to His promises. The same goes for us, we have a responsibility to God, we are accountable to God, the one we say we love. The verse tells us that we are a holy people and should we not be because God is holy; it would stand to reason that He would want His people to be holy and strive not only to love and be holy but also to keep His Word, and do all things on a level of excellence that truly represents Him and brings glory to His name.

If God has high standard towards us, shouldn’t we as a special treasure unto to Him, keep those same high standards in service to Him? We should be an example not only among ourselves, but to the rest of the world who is watching and taking notes. We must strive not to be a hindrance or a stumbling block with our actions and vain words; nor should we take the things of God lightly. If we say we love God then we would want to please Him in the manner in which we’ve been chosen. We are in the world yes, but not of it ... we need to take off the old habits, the old mindsets, the old ways, the old attitudes of the world; the ways that don't mesh in the ways or the work of the Lord. We should want to be found loving God and cherishing Him as He does us, the one He has chosen. It is an honor just to have been chosen. How can we reciprocate this wondrous love? We should be giving our all because that’s what you do when you truly love someone. God loves us on that level because everything He does for us speaks loudly and in volumes ... because I love you, because I'm committed you, because I CHOSE you. These are words we can stand on forever.

I praise God for setting his love upon me and choosing me. Not for any great thing I've done but simply because He loved me enough to choose me. That is what makes me happy and excited about who God is to me and that He included me in His plan of salvation and His purpose for His Kingdom … but most importantly, I thank Him letting me know that I am a special treasure unto Him. He loves me so much and continuously shows Himself faithful and for that, I am grateful!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde