“No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.” Ecclesiastes 8:8 ESV

“Death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it.” Such were the words of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, who died yesterday at age 56. Jobs reflected the truth of Scripture in those words and he consciously lived his life knowing he would die one day. As he went on to say, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Jobs used the time he had to produce extraordinary technological innovations that have changed our way of life. As one Christian blogger notes, “Steve Jobs, created in the image of God, was a remarkable example of God’s common grace in his aesthetics and creativity and productivity. And we can all hope that in his final days, this recipient of so much common grace found rest in God’s sovereign saving grace.”

Even though Jobs may not have been a Christian, his life provides a lesson for us. The Bible says that your life is but a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes (James 4:14). Jesus tells us to use the precious time we have by living for the eternal: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 ESVS).

No one escapes death. What will you do with your life until the day it ends? Steve Jobs committed himself to pursue life to the fullest and impact this world. How much more should Christians commit themselves to living life fully for Christ and impacting this world for eternity. IPods and iPhones will soon pass away, but the glory of Christ and souls of men will endure forever.

Al Mohler has some excellent thoughts on the passing of Steve Jobs that are well worth the read. He also provides these final words of application:

But unerring taste, aesthetic achievement, and technological genius will not save the world. Christians know what the world does not — that the mother tending her child, the farmer planting his crops, the father protecting his family, the couple faithfully living out their marital vows, the factory worker laboring to support his family, and the preacher preparing to preach the Word of God are all doing far more important work.

Thus the Christian affirms with the Apostle Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 ESV).