“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
My wife and I are at that age where we seem to be attending significantly more funerals. Very recently a dear uncle has left this earth to be with his Lord. His wit, humor and compassionate spirit will be greatly missed for the duration of our lives. While we are happy for those receiving their eternal reward, we truly miss those that have had a significant impact on our lives. Psalm 90 is one of those psalms that really puts life into perspective. A very brief summary is; “life is short; live it well.” Oh how short our lives really are and the comparison of life to grass in verse five drives the message home!
I was taken back by this reality last fall when Marie and I attended my class reunion several weeks after my father’s death. My parents and I moved to a small town in southern Illinois just before my freshman year in high school. In preparation for our move, the church that my dad pastored there built a new parsonage for us to use. That fall, Dad and I built a stable and fenced in a pasture so that I could have horses and he could raise a few calves. While there for the weekend, we decided to drive down to look around the town that used to be my home. I knew beforehand that the church had disbanded and sold the property, however, I wasn’t prepared for what I found. As we drove into the parking lot of the church, there was nothing there but the church building. The house, stable and fence had all been removed…even my favorite cedar tree was gone. It was as if we had never been there. I was left with the feeling that our presence there never mattered. While I know that the truth of the situation is much different, the pain was real. It did, however, prompt me to consider the reminder of Psalm 90 to “number my days”. As I read this Psalm, a few significant facts come to mind: God along with His wisdom, power and glory are everlasting; our lives are short, human wisdom is wanting and we must endeavor to make the most of our lives.
God is God and He is eternal. Whether or not we accept this truth, God is real and He is in control. Our perspective or opinion does not change that fact. Further, God is unchanging. I’ve known those that feel that the God of the Old Testament is different from God in the New Testament. That is not the case. God didn’t change; He merely provided continuing revelation. Similar to our training of children, He gave us the basic rules for life and the consequences of not following them in both word and example and then moved to the work of Christ, the plan of salvation and the rules for living under grace. One message provided in a progressive manner. In that message is the embodiment of His wisdom that, like God, is timeless. It does not change, it has stood the test of “the ages” and it is our guide for living. As Paul put it in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In contrast to God, we are created. While our souls may live for eternity, we had a beginning. As we walk this earth, our time here, our perspective and our wisdom are limited. As a group, those of us who suffer with chronic illness should have a heightened appreciation for the fragility of life. Even those who are relatively healthy must face the realities of an aging body and the risks of life. Our time here is short and we must make the most of it. As a result, we should never take our need for God and the gift of salvation for granted. It is not something that we should assume can be taken care of later. Accepting that gracious gift should be an immediate concern. Similarly, everything we do should be done “as unto the Lord”. I’m not referring to a legalistic checklist that wears us out. The point is to live well, accomplish the tasks that God has planned for us to the best of our ability. Yes, we may have to pace ourselves and work around our illness, but we are still called to live for the glory of God. In order to do that, it is essential that we rely on His wisdom. Human wisdom is imperfect, regularly changes and is often self-serving. It is an unsteady basis for guiding our lives. However, employing God’s wisdom to control our thoughts and actions provides a firm foundation. When we combine acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice with humble and grateful obedience to God’s wisdom, we can confidently come before God and ask Him to confirm the work of our hands and present Him a heart of true wisdom.
I can offer no better conclusion than the words of Paul. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)