Bible Reading: Psalm 90

“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty…So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:10a,12)

If you are of Chinese descent, along with three billion other people, you would have celebrated the Lunar New Year just over a week ago. Firecrackers went off, dining tables were filled with luxurious feasts, and red envelopes were passed around to all the lucky children. It was a time of joy, a time of celebration with family, and a time filled with positivity and hope for the future. 

As humans, we mark and celebrate the changing of time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us how “[God] has put eternity into man’s heart”. We understand that life is more than just this world. We know that time turns. Yesterday does not come back, and today is only temporal. 

While there is nothing wrong with celebrating the turnings of time, Moses prays for deeper wisdom. He asks God for a realisation of time. Time changes rapidly, and time is limited. As Moses said, a lifespan is seventy or eighty years if you are strong. Cut away a third of that due to sleep, cut out your current age, and you are left with around thirty-five to forty years to live, depending on how old you are. Convert that to days, which is only around twelve-and-a-half-thousand days left to live. That is if you reach seventy years. Who knows, tomorrow could very possibly be our last. Each day passes, and we journey one step closer to our end. Time ticks, and it will not wait. 

1. If time does not stop, what should be our response? Seek God. As Moses prays, “satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days”. Only satisfaction in God’s unfailing love will bring us real joy and purpose in this world.

2. Leave sin. The whole book of Psalms constantly reminds us how the wicked will perish. Living in sin, living for self, is a life of vanity. We were not created for such rebellion. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:1,5)

3. Don’t waste it. The book Do Hard Things by Brett and Alex Harris speaks of society’s low expectations of teenagers. Society expects teenagers to sit around and watch tv all day, look mature but inside be irresponsible. Sadly, that is our culture today. John 9:4 says, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” Our time on earth is limited. Why wait to serve God when you can serve Him now? If you understand the depth of the love of God, why would you not be eager to use all you have to bring Him all the more recognition and glory? 

Do not waste your time on trivial and unimportant business. Every second of your day is valuable because it never comes back. Use it wisely. When we surrender our whole lives to God, that means we offer every second of it to God. He has a grand plan for our lives. 

Is each moment in our lives lived out in obedience to His plan? Obedience is not a legalistic process or an obligation out of fear and guilt. Obedience is our joyful response of love to God. If you know that God loves you, love Him back by surrendering your time fully for Him. Seek His plan for our days. You will see that He has a grand plan for our future, and He has a plan for every single day of our life. Walk with Him and learn to follow Him each day. 

If time does not wait, let us not wait to follow Christ; let us not delay obeying Him. Trust in Him and His ways. Leave our sinful ways and know that His ways will bring us the greatest joy and satisfaction. 

Lord, teach me to number my days as You instructed Moses. Please help me realise what it means to live on this earth from a young age. I know that sin and the world is vanity. Please help me get to know You, serve You, and find my joy and satisfaction solely in You, my creator. Thank You, God. Please answer my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.

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