The spark becomes a flame burning more and more brightly, but even the brightest flame becomes an ember, then dies completely. It's a cycle; A beginning, middle and inevitable end, and no matter how brightly it may burn the flame will eventually begin to falter, to diminish and eventually die.
I see life that way. It sparks into being and we begin a journey...Of course, there's no distinct middle to it; Just a section in between being born and dying I suppose.
A fire has no conscience, no awareness, but we as humans do, and seeing ones life as finite may, for some, provide the impetus to take the appropriate actions to ensure it burns as brightly as possible in between the beginning and end; Some see it as their life's work, to create their life in the image of their choosing. Other's approach their life differently.
Either way, we have the ability to live an enlightened life, to burn brightly, bringing light into all corners of it, by taking ownership and responsibility, or we can simply burn until extinguished.
"Life is trying things to see if they work." - Ray Bradbury