It is tragic that so many people go about their lives as if God doesn’t exist… Instead of soberly acknowledging that their days are numbered in this world, they subconsciously assume they will live forever, and they steadfastly ignore any idea of judgment to come. Yeshua warned us, however, that “nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light” (Mark 4:22). We should tremble before such words. Each of us will give account for what we have done with the time given us (Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 12:36). Moses therefore prayed to God: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Each soul is given a finite amount of time in this world, and therefore Moses asked God to teach us how to live in light of our ultimate end… For this we need wisdom, which primarily consists of knowledge of the holy (דַעַת קְדשִׁים) and the experience of the awe of the LORD (יִרְאַת יְהוָה, Prov. 9:10). Note then the connection between learning to “number our days” and apprehending the sacredness of life. As we learn to esteem our days, so we discover wisdom for our sojourn to eternity. Reflecting on the brevity of life awakens us to consciously reflect upon the course of our lives and to distill the ultimate concerns of our hearts.
- Psalm 90:12 Hebrew page (pdf)
Consider, then, the “measure of your days…” Your life in this world will end far sooner than you expect, and then what will become of you? I am not here thinking of the end of “the” world, but rather the end of your world – when you will die and face the light of eternity. Today, this moment, you are on the way, going someplace; your “latter days” are already come upon you… If you are not prepared today, how will you be better prepared tomorrow? Today is the day of salvation, the hour that matters most. Learn to die to the world now, to let go of what presently holds you captive, so that you are free to meet that which forever shall come. Don’t put off genuine teshuvah: turn while there is still time. As Jim Elliot once said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” And may God give us mercy to say from the heart: “For me to live is Messiah, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
Yet how many of us take all this to heart? How many of us “number our days” that we might attain wisdom? Do we appreciate the brief amount of time we are given in this life? When we are young we believe we will live forever. David prayed, “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” (Psalm 39:4).
- Psalm 39:4 Hebrew page (pdf)