“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
One of my children had a birthday last week. Somehow, that used-to-be-baby of mine is an adult, complete with adult opinions, responsibilities, and gifts. Yet also, a dear friend slipped the bonds of this earth and went to live in her heavenly mansion, face-to-face with Jesus. How could these things be ? Time is truly running through my hourglass at an alarming rate!
The days seem to evaporate before my eyes, at times. When we are young, counting the days till some milestone presents itself, - Sixteen? Eighteen? Twenty-one? - we can hardly wait. But when those birthdays seem like long-ago memories, perhaps we wish them back. Yet, in God’s Word we see that it is not age that makes us useful to our Lord. The little maid was just a slip of a girl when she spoke to Naamen; many of the patriarchs were over 100 when they accomplished their greatest works for the Lord.
What, then, is the secret of the conquest of time? What is the triumph of the soul over the tyranny of days? We must live this moment, for that is really all the time there is, and we must not waste a precious tick of the clock. We must be present, and active in our present. Time is the very fabric of life; we dare not either wish it past or wish it back. We must live it. We must number our days as we would count our money, with the understanding that it must be used with good stewardship.
Time has been called the tester of truth, the healer, and the one preacher to whom all must listen, yet Christ triumphed over time when he conquered death. Through Christ, the gift of eternal life is yours. But our days on this swiftly spinning orb are numbered; our days to work for our Lord here in this vineyard are limited.
So today, look out across the coming days, weeks and months and determine to make the most of the scraps of time, the odd hours, the leftover bits of days. For that is more than enough time to make us masters of whole fields of knowledge and service yet unexplored. That is more than enough time to dig into the Word of God, to get to know Him through prayer, to make your life count for your Savior. That is more than enough time to give a hug, pat a back, send a note of appreciation. Make it a priority to make it happen.
Thank You, Father God, for my life and the blessings I enjoy here on earth. Help me to make each moment count for You, to seek to fully use and live each day. Strengthen me to approach life with discipline, with joy, and with purpose as I live it for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With prayers that your New Year brings new opportunities,
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity