The Brevity of Life

‘Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom’ (Psalm 90:12 - NLT).

  

‘Every time someone celebrates a birthday the fellow draws closer to the grave. The day you were born you began a trip to the grave; this is a journey you have to make willingly or unwillingly. Every passing second draws you closer to that destination’ (E. A. Adeboye). The briefness of man’s life on earth is indubitable and the Bible uses many illustrations in both the Old and New Testament to describe it.

Let’s consider a few examples of the Bible’s description of man and his life on earth;

         ‘O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow (Psalm 144:3-4).

         ‘You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” (Psalm 39:5).

         ^‘Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die’ ( Psalm 103:15) 

         ‘We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear’ (Job 14:2).

         ‘As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass, their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades’ (1 pet 1:24).

From the scriptures above the Bible uses the breadth of air, shadows, grass, flowers and the width of a hand to illustrate the brevity of a man’s life. Many people reading this devotional today can remember their days in kindergarten like it was yesterday. That is how fast life can be. Many fear the fleeting nature of time that they do not want to think of their age and even try to keep it as a secret. Others also try every means possible including cosmetic surgeries and make up to cheat age. However the truth is ageing and death are inevitable in life. There are two things everyone will possess in life, a birthday and a death date.

Considering the inevitability of death, what should one’s attitude towards life be? In Psalm 90:12 the psalmist prays ‘Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom’. The key to making use of our limited time on earth is wisdom and Jesus is the source of all wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). Today may the Lord grant you wisdom, the sound judgment you need to make the right choices and decisions in life. God our creator has a purpose and plan for everyone and it is only He who knows your purpose and life’s span on earth. The manufacturer of a product has the best knowledge of his product; therefore go back to your maker today. He knows you best, even more than you know yourself. 

You are not on earth by accident, you have a destiny and purpose to fulfill. Associated with your purpose on earth are two essential commodities of life; time and seasons. ‘For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (Eccl 3:1). Today ask yourself, ‘another year has just gone by, drawing me closer to my appointment with death. How did I move closer to accomplishing my goals and purpose in life?’ Jesus is the source of all wisdom; He is the way to a fulfilled life on earth and an eternal life in heaven. Seek him as your personal savior and Lord today, He reveals himself to those who seek him with all their hearts.