On a clear morning as the sun rises, the sky seems to be full of jet planes. At an altitude of five miles you don’t really see the planes, you only see the contrails they leave behind. And yet contrails are nothing but water vapors formed by the exhaust of the jet engines. Some contrails are long while others are short. Some spread out and last a while, but others disappear almost immediately. All contrails are different. But they all have one thing in common. They all fade away.

As I watch these planes in the sky, I know that they all have importance and purpose for being. Each one carries hundreds of people to their predetermined destination. Even so their greatest impression on the morning sky is nothing but condensed water vapor evaporating in the air. This reminds me that in spite of our importance and purpose, the Bible teaches that our lives are only a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Someone once asked President Ronald Reagan how he wanted to be remembered after he was gone. His answer was, “ I don’t care, I won’t be there”. This great man understood that in the grand scheme of eternity even the actions of presidents will dissipate in the winds of time. You and I should also remember that our life on earth is like a shadow and like a cloud our works will fade away .

There is great good news for those of us who love Jesus with all our hearts. This great good news is that while men will forget we ever lived, our Omnipotent Father in heaven knows our name forever. Our goal on this earth should be to lay up treasure in heaven. Treasure in heaven is not silver and gold. No, treasure in heaven is the souls of men that are there because of our witness. It is a wise person who leads souls to Christ. The Bible says “Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens. Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.” This is a promise that will never fade away.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends