THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1, NKJV). During the last two weeks of March, 2021, the state of Alabama, along with other states in the south suffered scattered and severe damage and the loss of lives due to terrible tornadoes. In one community in Alabama, 5 lives were lost when a horrific storm hit their homes. It has been estimated that in about 30 seconds these precious lives were taken by the tornado. The people did not know they were going to die that day. No doubt, they all had plans for the next day following the bad weather. How often has this happened to individuals who did not know their earthly life would end on a certain day. In James 4:13, 14, we read, “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.” It was not wrong or immoral to make future plans to travel to a city and do business. The real problem in this context is to be found in verses 15 and 16: “Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” These individuals were making definite plans formulated by their own wisdom and pride and were leaving God completely out of their intentions. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. The wise man wrote in Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” The Psalmist prayed, “LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am” (Psalm 39:4-6). For whatever reason, the psalmist, in his deep emotions, desired to know when he would die. Perhaps it was the suffering he was experiencing but the exact time of his death was not to be revealed. It is worthy to note that mankind is “frail” and fragile when it comes to life on this earth. We just do not know the exact time when death may overtake us. Death may be compared to a hurricane. Because of prolonged sickness, we know death is coming and we have time to prepare for it. Then it may be like a tornado, death comes sudden and without warning. Someone has said, “What a transient, monetary being I am, how soon I shall cease to be, how little a while I shall continue.” Preparation to meet God when we die is more important than the time or the how we leave this world. Israel of old had committed idolatry and was steeped in sin of every kind. God was to bring judgement upon His people. The prophet Amos gave this warning: “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” This warning can be given to all of mankind. How we live is more important than how we die. Would you not study His Word, believe in His Son Jesus Christ, turn from your sins and be baptized for the remission of your sins while you have the time and opportunity (Romans 10:17; John 8:24; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:36-38? You will be saved by the grace of God and by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1, 2, 9;Acts 22:16;Revelation 1:5). PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD “Careless soul, why will you linger, Wandering from the fold of God? Hear you not the invitation? O prepare to meet thy God. Careless soul, O heed the warning, For your life will soon be gone; O how sad to face the judgment, Unprepared to meet thy God.”