Time and God’s Wrath

Bible Reading: Psalm 90

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place

    in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2)

Time is something we often take for granted. Time is always there, yet we rarely notice it. Hours pass, days turn, the months change, and the past is but a blink of memory, no longer existent in reality. The only reality that exists is now, and that is scary. Because time never stops. It keeps going whether you like it or not. 

There are two big problems in our lives:

1. We are bound by time

As young people, we are often negligent towards time. We think that we can always enjoy life. We believe that there will always be a tomorrow to look forward to. The thing is, day by day, we are ticking slower to our death, and time does not wait. We might not know when we die, but the fact that we are getting closer to it every day is a reality. 

There are many things that we enjoy and seek in this life. There are big things like the memories we make with family and friends, and studying well to get to uni and get a job. Other things make us happy, like entertainment, hobbies, games and many more. However, there is one big issue with all these things. The problem is time. These things are bound by time; they will all eventually run out. Just like how arcade machines shut down when our money runs out, so too, all the things we enjoy in life will be gone when our time runs out. 

We don’t know when that happens. So don’t believe that since we are young, we are invincible and have a long life ahead of us. Our time could run out tomorrow. It could run out this afternoon. 

Moses prays, “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 90:5-6).

2. In our rebellion, we deserve God’s wrath.

Our time does not stop because we are under God’s wrath because of our sin and rebellion, and our final destiny is the fulfilment of that wrath in hell. A Holy God facing sinful man cannot but pour out His righteousness and justice in wrath. We deserve to be smitten and destroyed. Moses says, “For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence” (Psalm 90:7-9)

This life is really a life of vanity if we continue to seek our own pleasure, joys, and ways in this world. Our secret sins are known to God. He knows the crook and crannies of our hearts where we indulge in sins we don’t want anyone to know about. And, because of our rebellion against Him, we deserve His wrath. 

If time never stops and all the joys of this world will never be able to fulfil us, and the end of it all is God’s wrath, what hope is there for mankind? 

Our only hope is in the Eternal One, unbound by time and Holy in love, able to cleanse us from our unrighteousness. Only in God do we have hope. He is the only thing we can rely on. He is our only source of joy and comfort as we pilgrim through the deserts of time. See the desperation when Moses prays in v. 12 – 17:

“So teach us to number our days

    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long?

    Have pity on your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    and for as many years as we have seen evil.

Let your work be shown to your servants,

    and your glorious power to their children.

Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,

    and establish the work of our hands upon us;

    yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:12-17)

Cry out to God that He has mercy to reveal Himself to us, that He shows Himself as our only comfort and source of strength in this life. Beg for it because there is no other hope for this life apart from Him. Only in Christ who is eternal is God’s wrath satisfied, and only in Christ can our time be redeemed for the worthy cause of God’s glory.

Lord, I have nothing in this world but You. Only You can be my only hope and source of strength. Please have mercy on me. Let me come to know You. Forgive me when I rely on the world for joy and comfort. Teach me to rely on You alone because only You can save me from my sins. Lord, I give my life for You. Redeem my time and the short life on earth; may it be used for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.