“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 (KJV)

There is something breathtaking about fireworks. The loud boom. The sparkle in the sky. And then the silence that follows the smoke & ashes. 

It lasts only for a short time. A moment. 

That’s our life on earth, really. A vapor that appears for a short time & then vanishes into eternity.

250 years ago, men fought for our freedom that we still have today. Their legacy: independence. We celebrate these freedoms every July. We know these freedoms come with a cost & we are grateful for the legacy left behind.

But what about the freedom found only in Christ? What are we doing with that liberty? 

Because like a firework, our life on earth will vanish very quickly & what kind of legacy will it leave? Will it make a bright flash & then vanish into smoke & ashes or will it hold something more? 

What will our grandchildren think of when they hear our names? Will they think only of the fleeting earthy accomplishments & memories or will they be pointed to our Savior and His legacy of eternal life?

Freedoms aren’t free. They are not guaranteed. They are simply a gift. But the ONE freedom that cannot be taken away is the freedom from sin & death if we choose to serve Christ & surrender in obedience to His desire for our lives written out clearly in His word. He paid the ultimate price for this expensive freedom: His own life. Through His death & resurrection, we have the freedom to choose to be included in His eternal legacy & not only can our short vapor-like lives now hold a purpose, we can live with Christ forever, even after this life vanishes away. 

Through His grace, may we choose to take advantage of this freedom.