It is important for us to keep in mind the brevity of this physical life. Solomon wrote that the day of one’s death is better than his birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1) because the end of a matter is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Most of us tend to live as if we will never die, at least until we attain old age, if we are so blessed. But God tells us that the wise in heart will live in consideration of our certain demise.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
The other day I was thinking about someone I have tried to help over the years. I gave this person things of value that I never saw him use. I suppose he sold or gave them away. I decided not to give him anything else because he did not appreciate my previous gifts. In my thinking, he squandered something valuable to me that I shared with him. Immediately a thought entered my mind, probably from the Holy Spirit.
God gives all people a most precious thing – life, and most of us squander it to a great extent because we don’t fully appreciate it.
We imagine our lives will never end and that we are accountable to no one for how we use this time on earth.
The Bible says that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13) This means that God gave us life (created us), sustains our lives each moment, and one day will call us to return our lives back to him. Ultimately, we will stand before him in judgment, and receive from him our final reward.
Solomon wisely advised us.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (ESV)
Because of sin, death entered God’s perfect creation. It disconnected us from life’s Source, our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer.
The aging and dying process gently weans us away from the pull of this world. The things that formerly brought joy and meaning to our existence tend to fade. God wants us to become more and more focused on eternal things.
The approach of death, if it leads us to Christ, is a blessing from an eternal perspective.
For the believer in Christ, death is a gateway into eternity and manifest presence of God. It is the goal of life to stand before God and enjoy his love and being forevermore!
Solomon said that it is better to consider death than go to a party!
A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (ESV)
Most people put off thinking about death and the hereafter as long as possible, but this is actually quite foolish. Eternity may get here sooner than we think, and it lasts a long, long forever. When God calls us home, there will be no more second chances, no more life to squander. We will face the one who gave us life and will hold us accountable for how we used this wonderful opportunity.
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
God wants us to consider and be thankful for the gift of life. He wants us to be grateful and appreciate his continual sustaining of our lives each day. With each breath we take, we are experiencing God’s grace. And when it is time to return these lives back to God, he wants us to do so freely and eagerly, knowing that what lies ahead far surpasses anything we have yet experienced. This will only be true for those who recognize Jesus as the Savior and Lord.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV)
God wants us to hold onto physical life with an open hand, not a clenched fist.
It does not really belong to us, does it? For us to do this, we must be like Jesus, who at the point of death said: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) As a little child, he wants us to entrust our lives and death to him – our Creator, Keeper, Shepherd, and Final Destination.
