Number Our Days

 “Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am” (Psalm 39:4)

I am constantly reminded at the shortness of life.  We come into this world and we have so many years ahead of us we give very little thought of it being over.  As I get older I now am painfully aware that one day this life will end.  Along the way, I am given reminders when others I know and love die.  I am reminded of the finality of life and how there are no restarts.  When life on this earth is finished, it is finished.  There are no more chances to go back and fix things.  There are no more chances to say I’m sorry or I love you one last time.  There are no more chances at mending fences.

Yesterday I was again reminded of this reality when someone I knew pasted away.  I can’t say we had the best of relationships but I was hopeful one day it would have worked out.  That day sadly didn’t come and now I have to live with a level of regret.  The Psalmist ask God to help him number his days, so he would know how short-lived he was.  He wanted to make his day’s count and not waste them on what could have been.  Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  On the day I received the call I read Psalm 78:39, “He remembered that they are only flesh, a wind that passes and does not return” At that moment I was hit by the reality of my own mortality. 

This reality of our limited time should inspire us to live our lives with a sense of urgency.  It should cause us to make the most of the relationships we have now.  As Christians, we have hope, we know death is not the end for the those who place their faith Jesus Christ.  Scripture promises “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you”.  (Romans 8:11) Our lives are short and I want to encourage you make the most of today. Keeping your eyes on Christ and trusting him.