"TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY APPLY OUR HEARTS TO WISDOM" Psalm 90:12.
How do we number our days?
SEE THAT...
- GOD IS THE CREATOR.
- GOD IS ETERNAL.
- GOD'S DAYS ARE ENDLESS.
- WE ARE THE CREATED.
- WE ARE TRANSIENT.
- OUR DAYS ARE LIMITED.
God is our source of true wisdom. And fearing Him is the beginning of wisdom. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
A few years ago, there was a commercial, which asked, “It’s 10 o’clock; do you know where your children are?” This commercial has always seemed to stick in my mind. I could not tell you what was being advertised in the commercial, but I can tell you it has a real application in lives today. For many today the time in their lives is 10 o’clock, and soon their souls will be required. Perhaps we are nearing 10 o’clock ourselves. Do we know where we are?
The lifespan of a person is around 74 years. I am sure that this fluctuates somewhat depending upon location and vocation, but this is the average age. Moses wrote about the brevity of life, “For it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). The point is this:
MAN AT BEST WILL NOT BE HERE LONG, AND TRUTHFULLY IS NOT GUARANTEED A MOMENT. THE CLOCK MAY STOP AT ANY TIME
I can name friends who have passed from this life before they really had a chance to begin to live. Many of those, unfortunately, had not made preparation for the life after this one and will be lost, and so will we if we lay not up treasures in heaven.
Perhaps we think that we will live long enough to make things right. That is a great risk. The time to be saved is now for each one of us.
Someone has made a mathematical parallel of the lifespan with a 24 hour day. It is as follows; see what time it is in your life.
If you are 15 years old............
it's 8:51 a.m.
If you are 20 years old............
it's 11:08 a.m.
If you are 25 years old............
it's 12:25 p.m.
If you are 30 years old............
it's 1:25 p.m.
If you are 35 years old............
it's 2:59 p.m.
If you are 40 years old............
it's 4:16 p.m.
If you are 45 years old............
it's 5:43 p.m.
If you are 50 years old............
it's 6:50 p.m.
If you are 55 years old............
it's 8:08 p.m.
If you are 60 years old............
it's 10:00 p.m.
If you are 70, you are getting near........................................
MIDNIGHT
While we are not all 60-year-olds, I will repeat the earlier question, It’s 10 o’clock; do you know where you are?” How many people have wondered where the time went? James 4:14 shows the brevity of life in certain terms, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is a vapour, that appeareth for little time, and then vanisheth away. It is my hope that you will make the most of today and look to God for salvation.
-Daniel F. Cates, Philidelphia, Mississippi
NUMBER YOUR DAYS
BE WISE
FOLLOW HIS WORD
The Fear of Death Need not be
“…Prepare to meet thy God…” (Amos 4:12).
FEARING GOD
James reminds us of the shortness of life in James 4:14 where he says, “…For what is your life? It is even as a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” We seldom think of the shortness of life, until we encounter some difficulty in life that reminds us of its brevity. The death of a friend or a close brush with death will often serve as reminders of just how quickly we could leave this earth. If we are unprepared to meet God, these moments can be painful and terrifying.
It is not unusual for us to find ways to put death out of our minds during our daily routine. In fact, if we dwell on the fear of death each day, we will be afraid to live. The key to being at peace with ourselves is in being at peace with God. If we know that we are right in His sight, then those moments of fear regarding death are more tolerable. Paul said that he was caught in a tight decision as to whether it was better for him to live or die. He knew people needed him on the earth, but he also was excited about being with the Lord (Phil. 1:21-24). He did not fear death as do those without hope, for he had the confidence that he was right with God.
That is the way of coming to terms with death. If we know that we have done all that we could do to serve God , and be prepared for death, then we can face that dramatic event with less terror. Paul said he was ready to go (II Tim. 4:6-8), and I believe that we can make the same adjustment.
If we are not ready to meet God, then truly death is a terror. The same Bible that gives consolation to the saint regarding his destiny after death, is the book that gives a fearful portrait of what awaits the sinner when he leaves this earth. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God if we are unprepared (Heb. 10:31). This is why Christians plead with those outside of Christ to make preparation to meet the Lord. We have found a peace in knowing the blessings of God, and we wish that you would partake of the same blessings.
We cannot stop death. We will leave this earth at our appointed time (Heb. 9:27). How will you face death? With excitement or terror. Only you can make the preparations that will affect that moment.
–Dale D. Robins–