“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10 ESV
Reflection: what are you planning to do with this day that glorifies God?
We stopped at a local restaurant yesterday for dinner. Somehow a juicy burger sounded so good. As the waitress had taken our order, a young man, perhaps in his early thirties, walked into the restaurant. At first glance, he seemed like a regular guy, nothing too unusual about the way he dressed or looked. But then we saw him just walk around in the restaurant, aimlessly, but as if he was looking or waiting for something. A bit fidgety and perhaps a bit concerning. Eventually he asked for a cigarette, of the waitresses as well as of us. At this point, we put the pieces together that he was high, on some sort of drugs. Together with the restaurant staff, we tried to help him a bit. But it was so very sad to watch, this young man being so lost.Throwing away the best years of his life in this way.
And in a way, this man is so symbolic of so many people doing the same, all around us. Perhaps not with drugs, but with all sorts of meaningless things and activities. Like just burning up their time, their few days given here on earth. Moses wrote this beautiful psalm 90, which really reflects well the vastness of God and the brevity of man. “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.” Psalm 90:2-6 ESV
And, in the focus verse today, Moses makes the point that “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10 ESV. You might argue that life expectancy has increased, perhaps even into the nineties and even beyond one hundred. But the point of Moses still stands – our time here, for all of us, is still very short, relatively to God. To eternity. In that context, Moses concludes with a well known prayer “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 ESV. Oh, isn’t that the truth, dear fellow believer? That we see this day, even the next few hours ahead of us, God willing, in the context of eternity. Not to be wasted, walking around aimlessly as the young man.
Paul wrote “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:11-16 ESV. So, how can you and I use the next few hours that we have been given, to glorify God? To help and lead our fellow man, especially those who are struggling, those who are walking aimlessly around, totally lost in this life? That is what Jesus did.
Let’s pray together: “Lord, help me to see others that you place in my path today through your eyes. Please give me a heart of wisdom, and the courage I need to do your work. In Jesus name, Amen.”