Scientists tell us that lightning flashes around the world some 6,000 times per minute. The Bible teaches us that, like a bolt of lightning, our lives appear like a flash and then we are gone forever.

Our lives are, “A vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). The days of our years are, “Soon cut off, and then we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). We are as, “A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (Psalm 78:39).

Away. Away. Away! We are here today and gone the next; never to pass through this life again. We only get one life to count for God. This is it. We will not get another.

Away then with regret—wishing you were someone else, someplace else, doing something else with your life. If you are doing what God wants you to do, “Do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device [planning], nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Give who you are, where you have been, and what is left of your life to that which never dies (1 Peter 4:12; 1 John 2:15–17). Determine to make a lasting impact upon your generation by doing the will of God and leaving a legacy of faith in action.

Someone has said, “Life is like a coin; you can spend it any way you wish. But, you can only spend it once.” Life is short. We must invest the coin of our lives wisely.

Life is also filled with storms. Remember that lightning flashes brightest in the darkest clouds. Do not forsake in the storm what God gave you in the sunshine. The lightning bolt of your life will pass quickly. May it also flash brightly for the glory of God and the good of others!

 In the words of C. T. Studd: “Only one life twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”