My New Year's Resolution
By George Stroh
January 30, 2013
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor (a cloud) that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:13, 14)
On my smart phone home screen I have photo I took of a large white cumulus cloud gently floating across the beautiful, blue Arizona sky. When I look at it I think about the verse in James that reminds us that we are just like this cloud that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
When I was traveling a lot for business, I would sometimes find a local cemetery to walk through. Yes... I know that it sounds a little weird, but cemeteries are a peaceful, quiet place to walk, think, pray and just be alone with God for a time. Reading the names and dates on the headstones also reminded me of how temporal life really is. Each of these souls who have proceeded us into eternity once lived and had goals and plans; Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
Even though we don't know what tomorrow will bring, I still think setting goals and making plans is wise and prudent stewardship of our time and other finite resources. Just don't get too attached to your goals and plans; The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
My New Year's resolution is to try to trust and obey the Lord more each day according to His will and in His strength; Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." (James 4:15) May the Lord abundantly bless each of you and your families in this New Year and... Maranatha!
