We all have been impacted by the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Although The Queen lived to a good age of 96 years, scripture tell us that life is very short compared with eternity. James 4:14 says, ‘Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.’

A vapour is a fine mist like fog. It quickly burns away when the sun comes up. It has no substance and leaves nothing behind. Comparing our lives to a vapour illustrates how brief our days are on this earth.

David said: ‘The days of our lives are seventy years, or even eighty if we have strength; yet their span is but toil and trouble. Our years are soon gone, and we fly away’ (Psalm 90:10).

Even if we manage to increase the span to 90 or 100 or beyond, the principle is the same. Our lives in this world are like a vapour. Appearing for a little while and then vanishing. So how can we make our life count? 

Here are some principles to help us make sure that we reach our full potential:

1. Discover your purpose in God. Purpose is defined as the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. Success, for me, is purpose-fulfilled. Purpose is what gives meaning to life. Too many people in this world today live without purpose, but we are all created with a purpose and for a purpose. We are here not by mistake but by divine design and appointment. If we are to be truly successful, we must discover our purpose and fulfil it. An apple seed is not successful until it becomes a tree and has fruit on it. My advice is that everyone needs to find what they were born for.

2. Find the plan of God. A plan is defined as a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something – an intention or decision about what one is going to do. We don’t get to decide God’s purpose for us; instead, we discover it. However, He has a unique plan for each one of us – remember that God’s desire for all of us is to experience not just life but abundant life, and He wants us to get the plan. So let’s intentionally seek God’s plan by spending time in His presence and asking Him for His plan, and He will reveal it to us through His Word (where we’ll discover that His plan is already blessed.) 

3. Execute the God-given plan. Once you discover His purpose for your life and know God’s plan, then you need to execute the plan. Some have discovered their purpose and have the plan, but they are not willing to execute it because they feel it does not fulfil their personal ambitions/aspirations. Never forget that our potential is only limited by what we believe we cannot do. However, God believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. He not only promises to be with us as we execute the plan but He also gives us the tools to fulfil it. Remember, we have access to the power of The Holy Spirit, the power of His Word, and the power of His Name. Also, we are protected by the power of His blood. So let’s reach our full potential by discovering our purpose in God, find out the blessed plan of God for our lives, and make sure that we execute the plan to the letter and experience the fullness of life.

Lastly, in reflecting on the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, we can truly say that she not only discovered God’s purpose and plan for her life but executed it faithfully. Here is what she said at her 21st birthday speech to the nations: ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.’ Well, by God’s grace, she surely executed and fulfilled that promise right to the end. What an example to us all. May God give us all the grace to fulfil what we have individually been called to do in the most effective and faithful way!