Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)
I'm fairly certain that none of those concert-goers went to the fair that day thinking that they would never return home. What was the worse thing that could happen at a Sugarland concert, after all? Indeed, it is a very sad and shocking event, all the more so because it was so unexpected. One assumes a certain amount of risk riding on wild rides like roller coasters and the such (I stay away from them - far far away!). But standing on the ground in front of a concert stage - what could be safer?
As I contemplated this news, I thought about the truth that all of our lives are but a momentary mist in the grand scheme of things. No one knows when their time is up. Most of us don't work in dangerous occupations like law enforcement or the military or mining. We wake up in the morning, go about our mundane routines, and assume that we will return home safely at the end of the day. But the Apostle James reminds us that we can't take a single day of our lives for granted. Only God knows how many days have been allotted to us here on earth. This is not to say that we should go about our lives in constant fear of death, or refuse to plan beyond the next few minutes. But we should always acknowledge that our plans are subject to God's greater plan, and that we will only carry out our plans if it is His will.
I drive a considerable distance on my commute every day, and know that every time I sit behind that wheel, I may never reach my destination. More and more, drivers on the road are distracted by so many things (don't ever let me catch you texting while driving!). I am amazed at the things I see people doing when they should be driving - dialing their cell phones, texting, reading, putting on make-up, shaving, filing paperwork, using their laptops, talking to their kids in the back seat. Sometimes several of these things all at once. I cringe whenever I see a driver holding their cell phone in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other; I wonder who is driving the car.
Because we know that our lives can end in a moment, it is all the more important that we secure our eternal future by establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior. If you have not accepted His sacrifice on the cross as payment in full for your sins, then there is no better time than now to make that all-important decision. Tomorrow may be too late. Beyond that, strive to make the most of every moment that God gives you. Don't forget to tell your loved ones that you love them, even if you're pretty sure that they already know.
My prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those who died at the fair. May God provide them comfort and peace as only He can.
Have a blessed week.
Pastor David
