THE BREVITY OF LIFE

We are perishable beings chanting with forever lips, like eternal beings. We are raindrops on shattered windows acting like the ocean waves. This is man; a fading reality, a flickering candle in the wind


There comes a moment when we all must realize that life is short, and in the end, what really counts is not how others see us, but how God sees us” — Billy Graham

“Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.” Psalm 144:4 KJVAE.

A few days ago I learned an important lesson from an incident that took place at home. I know most parents can relate with this, especially under the current situation of COVID-19 when most kids are at home 24/7 being home schooled. In my desire to save a banana for another day from my daughter who have become accustomed to consuming groceries at the speed of light. Before you blink an eye almost everything is gone

So on this day I decided to hide one of the banana in the upper cabinet of our kitchen so I could use it for smoothie the next day instead of keeping everything at the usual spot on the kitchen counter. I knew I was safe because she will not be able to see it or reach. For some interesting reason I forgot I have hidden the banana away from her.

You know banana is perishable and when it is ripe you can only save it up to 2-4 days. This banana could only survive a day or two. Imagine how many days this banana find itself in the dark. For more than a month the banana was inside the top cabinet minding its own business. About two days ago I decided to hide cookies away from my son and his Covid 19 high appetite levels for another day or two.

Lo and behold, I saw this black banana softly lying on the same spot am hiding the cookies and when I brought it out I knew I was as fallible as the word fallible could mean. How on earth did I forgot, I asked with a soft smile. Suddenly, wisdom flowed through my soul.

The very yellowish smooth banana has changed into something else; blackened and flattened like a dead squirrel on a highway. It reminded me of the fragile nature and brevity of man. In all of our search to be appear invisibly awesome, strong, unbeatable and the guarantee to weather through the storms of life without defects, we always come back to the same spot of mortality.

In our pursuit to be here, on this side of life for a long long time, we have come to realize that we can’t conquer the brevity of life. Alas, we are fragile and our lives changes like the flower. The best among us is as vulnerable like a toddler learning to ride a bicycle

Yeah, we are vulnerable. We struggle to come to terms with the short span of our life. We were not born to live forever fresh in the flesh. We were not born to be exempted completely from the constant changes in this our fragile experience. This is why we see the strong fade through the icy hands of death, and the young and agile become old; feeling insignificant in his mobility and power as in the days of his youth.

Our bodies, regardless of how we condition it with all kinds of physical training regime and follow the latest anti aging formulas, the famous endorsed dieting plans and cosmetics surgeries, we will never endure life in foreverness. We become weakened by the day through unexpected sicknesses, sin, old age, stress and many emotional weights. This side of eternity is perishable and it’s occupied by us. We are the perishable men that sometimes want to act like we have control over our destinies.

“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” Psalm 103:15-16 KJVAE

My heart has been totally humbled by this experience. As I held this blackened reduced banana in my hand, I felt the wisdom of scripture emitting from my spirit. You know God will use multiple channels to draw home an important message.

On this day these words sunk in deeper; “as for man, his days are as grass. As the flower of the field, so he flourish. The wind passeth over it, and is gone.” Where is the place for pride and invincibility? What is the essence of comparison and hate? What is the place of boastings? Everything around us is just like a common banana or a beautiful flower. We are sweet and glorious today but such glorious of the mundane do not last forever

I am also reminded of the words of the psalmist;

“Psalm 90:12 NLT Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

A man who understands and live his life from the persuasion of truth — That kind of man is rich in humility towards God, and has a good estimation of others, in love. Such brethren makes wise choices that echoes into eternity. His soul is not dedicated to the mundane but he thrives in the agenda of God for the season he lives in. Such a man will not sell his soul cheaply at the auction of vanity

Lets cry unto our God, that the grace to appropriate life prudently will be lavished on us daily so that we don’t live like the heathen; without the urgency and purpose orchestrated by divine ordination. May we not perish with the wind but thrive under the influence of the power and love, gratitude, forgiveness, and holiness of our Father in heaven through Christ Jesus.

We are are at period of birth pangs. The signs of Jesus coming is upon us. Friend, it behooves us to redeem the time. Let us not live as if we are exempted from the fragility of life. Without the constant help from the administrative center of our eternal Christ, which is able to fortify our hearts and minds we will be governed by the economy of the dust, and all our days will be a wasted life; a live giving to the cause of vanity.

May Jesus be uncensored in us. He that has an ear let him hear and see the wisdom of God in this matter.

“When we fully understand the brevity of life, its fleeting joys and unavoidable pains; when we accept the facts that all men and women are approaching an inevitable doom: the consciousness of it should make us more kindly and considerate of each other. This feeling should make men and women use their best efforts to help their fellow travelers on the road, to make the path brighter and easier as we journey on. It should bring a closer kinship, a better understanding, and a deeper sympathy for the wayfarers who must live a common life and die a common death.”— Clarence Darrow