LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
Psalm 39:4-5
Nothing is as difficult as seeing one’s health helplessly deteriorates or watching a loved one die right before your eyes and unable to stop or improve the situation in any way. This is definitely a painful position to be and it is very frustrating, knowing that the journey of life is about to end, eternity is about to begin, and that individual will no longer be available here in this world bodily to be a father, mother, daughter or son to anyone ever again. It is unbelievable to see how quickly life is translated from humanity to eternity. You will notice the fear of the unknown, the feelings of hopelessness and uncertainties, and the grieves that cannot be explained with frustration, and overwhelming disappointments due to the:
- Reflection of the wasted past years.
- Reality of the helpless present state.
- Realization of the future judgement of God.
We must accept the reality of our deficiencies before it is too late, the fragility of human nature, the brevity and uncertainty of this life, and how hopeless and miserable we are outside God in order to set our priority right and pursue the right thing.
Many people pretend like they are above this inevitable reality, acting like they have been exonerated from it. Having been deceived by the enemy to trust in talents, treasures, achievements or in themselves chasing after fame and fortune at the expense of their relationship with their creator. This is due to pride. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
It takes humility to know and accept personal sinfulness, weaknesses, limitations, and the need for God’s help.
No matter how wealthy, educated, popular or influential, when the time comes, the inevitable always prevails and we give in to the fate.
To face eternity with joy and certainty you must…
- Acknowledge your sins and weaknesses.
- Confess your sins to God and forsake them.
- Accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior.
- Apologize and make peace with God and man.
- Make restitution, return, or replace stolen things.
- Redeem every likely broken promises and vows.
- Learn to listen obediently to the Holy Ghost.
- Forsake bad companies and follow righteousness.
- Be faithful to God and guide against idolatry.
- Learn to be steadfast in the faith and serve God.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, learn to listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance and believe the word of God.
Humility is a great virtue in life, that must be possessed by all. Dictionary defines humility as “The quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc.” Humility is often thought to occur in the absence of pride. God gives grace to the humble.
It is scary to see people acting proudly or hear them speaking arrogantly like they forgot they came into this world naked and will return naked. Like they have forgotten they are strangers in this world.
I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. Psalm 119:19
A stranger who has nothing permanent. The house he owns today will be occupied by someone else tomorrow. He dies and takes nothing with him. We have seen people who unexpectedly died and left their children, wife, money, place etc.
The Bible says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity”. Ecclesiastes 12:7-8
Someone, seen today, may not be here tomorrow. His office, position and properties left to be taken or given to someone else.
Is your hope in God or uncertain things of this world?
May the Lord teach us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom.
The Scripture says, “So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”. Psalm 90:12
WHAT IS MAN?
This question appeared six times in six verses of the Bible.
LORD, what is man, that thou take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou make account of him! Psalm 144:3
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Job 15:14
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? Job 7:17
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visit him? Psalm 8:4
According to the Scriptures, man is….
- DUST: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen 3:19
- WORM: How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm? Job 25:6
- GRASS: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away:1Peter 1:24
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. James 1:10-11
- VANITY: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Psalm 39:5.
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? Ecclesiastes 6:11
- CLAY: But now, O LORD, thou artour father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand Isaiah 64:8
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jeremiah 18:4
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? Romans 9:21.
David said, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalm 51:13.
Man is limited in every sense of way because of iniquities and without Jesus we are lost. Only those who are saved can look forward to eternity of hope and joy.
