It’s gotten to that point in summer where everyone’s realizing there’s just a little time left to fit in all the things we want to do before summer ends and school starts. What seemed to stretch out for a good while now seems like it will be over in a blink.

The Bible encourages Christians to have a similar realization about our entire lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the present and forget that we don’t have forever to make an impact for Christ in this world. But in His Word, God reminds us again and again, from Genesis to Revelation, that life is but “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:1 NIV), and we should be using our time to make eternal investments.

As this summer comes to a close, let it be a reminder to you of how soon all of life will be past and be motivated to redeem the time for Christ.

“…[T]he day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:11-13.