LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Psalms 39:4
Most of us go through this life not giving much thought to our end. In the verse above, David not only considered the shortness of life, he asked that he would know his end and the measure of his days and that he would know how fail he is.
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:"1 Peter 1:24
'Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."James 4:13 -14
"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."Psalms 103:15
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."Isaiah 40:3-8
For Job, it took great distress for him to consider just how short his life was.
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope."Job 7:6
"(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)"Job 8:9
"Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good."Job 9:25
"He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."Job 14:2
Most of us don't give it much thought until we're older, and we start to see many who have been a part of our lives in one way or another, fade away...
And we start to see and feel the symptoms of aging in our own bodies.
"My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me."Psalms 38:10
"My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass."Psalms 102:11
One thing we know is certain, our lives on this earth are limited.
Billions of others have stood on the same earth, looked up at the same stars, felt the warmth of the same sun on their shoulders and faced an end to their lives. It's the one thing we all have in common, regardless of race and beliefs. We all will have an end.
Life is short, there's no question about it. But Eternity is forever. We should be living this life like we're heading to our eternal home.
The same home that Abraham looked for as he sojourned in this world as he was led by the same eternal God.
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."Jeremiah 31:3
"Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"Isaiah 26:4
There have never been any promises that this life would be easy, but we have a wondrous and mighty God who cares for us and sees us through.
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."Isaiah 43:2
Though our days are numbered, we do have the promise of everlasting life in Christ.
What peace of mind God gives to those who trust Him.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14
September 19 2017