Simple Bible Truths Life Is Short

Life is short.

Your days are numbered.

What God calls a lifetime
A mist: appears for a little while, then vanishes. (James 4:14)
A breath: even a life that feels secure. (Psalm 39:5)
Grass: new in the morning, dry by evening. (Psalm 90:5–6)
Seventy years: eighty if we are strong. Then we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)
Numbered: “You have decided the length of our lives.” (Job 14:5)
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12 (NLT)

Accept it, or ignore it.

Wisdom accepts it. Fools ignore it.

ACCEPTED IT
Moses: buried a generation in the desert, then prayed Psalm 90.
David: “Show me, Lord, my life’s end.” (Ps 39:4)
Esther: “If I perish, I perish.” She went anyway. (Esther 4:16)
The thief on the cross: one afternoon left. He spent it on Jesus.
Jesus: “Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)
IGNORED IT
The rich fool: “plenty laid up for many years.” He died that night. (Luke 12:19–20)
Belshazzar: threw a party while the writing was on the wall. Dead by morning. (Daniel 5)
Israel in the desert: hoarded tomorrow’s manna. It rotted overnight. (Exodus 16:20)
The five bridesmaids: assumed there was time. The door shut. (Matthew 25:10)
Felix: trembled, said “when I find it convenient,” and never trembled again. (Acts 24:25–26)
“Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”
Ecclesiastes 7:2

They knew.

And lived like it.

Jesus: knew it was his last night. He spent it washing feet. (John 13:1–5)
Moses: knew he would die on the mountain. He spent his last days blessing the next generation. (Deut 33–34)
Peter: “I will soon put aside the tent of my body.” He made every effort to leave the truth behind. (2 Peter 1:13–15)
Paul: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” He finished his race unafraid. (Phil 1:21)
David: “I am about to go the way of all the earth.” His last charge pointed his son to God. (1 Kings 2:2–3)
Simeon: saw Jesus, and was ready. “Now dismiss your servant in peace.” (Luke 2:29)
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55

Spend your days on what lasts.

LEFT BEHIND
Money, kept: we take nothing out. (1 Tim 6:7)
Work, for yourself: inherited by someone who never earned it. (Eccl 2:18)
Beauty, outward: fleeting. (Prov 31:30)
A name, on earth: forgotten. (Eccl 1:11)
Days, ignored: gone, with nothing to show. (Prov 27:1)
STORED IN HEAVEN
Money, given: treasure that never fails. (Luke 12:33)
Work, for the Lord: never in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
Beauty, within: unfading. (1 Peter 3:4)
A name, in heaven: written, and rejoiced over. (Luke 10:20)
Days, accepted: they add up to wisdom. (Ps 90:12)
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
1 John 2:17

Takeaway

Tomorrow promised to no one.
Today the day the Lord has made.
Live like your days are numbered. They are.
Living like your days are numbered
  • Reconcile today: “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”Eph 4:26
  • Own it today: “I have sinned against the Lord.”David, 2 Sam 12:13
  • Give now: “Do not say ‘Come back tomorrow’ when you have it with you.”Prov 3:28
  • Gratitude: “This is the day the Lord has made.”Ps 118:24
  • Priorities: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”Matt 6:33
  • Testify: “I declare your power to the next generation.”Ps 71:18
  • Hold plans loosely: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”James 4:15
Living like they will never end
  • Put it off: “When I find it convenient.”Felix, Acts 24:25
  • Follow later: “First let me go and bury my father.”Luke 9:59
  • Stockpile: “I will build bigger barns.”the rich fool, Luke 12:18
  • Presume: “Tomorrow we will go do business.”James 4:13
  • Assume more time: “Tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.”Isaiah 56:12
  • Numb it: “Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”Isaiah 22:13
“Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”
Psalm 90:14 (NLT)