PREVIEW: Time flies, and one day before you and I know it, we will go the way of all the earth. And when that day comes, what will those who have been under our influence say about us? What will they say about the thumbprint we have left on their lives? What kind of legacy are we creating by the way we live in the present? Sobering, isn’t it? May we treat Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90:12 with utmost seriousness, “Lord, teach us to number our days aright so we might live them wisely?”
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 144:10
David’s words are so true—and sobering, aren’t they? Time flies, life is fleeting, and before you know it, those who were once so alive and vibrant are now ambling toward the twilight of their lives. For good or bad, the finish line is not that far off. And, on occasion, the saying, “here today, gone tomorrow” forcefully intrudes into your world with an unmistakable wakeup call that this is not only true of the people you know and love, but also of you as well.
Many years ago, I had the privilege of spending time with two men who have served as my spiritual mentors. They were both great leaders in their day, and their influence in my life had been nothing less than defining. In their prime, they were unequaled in visionary, courageous, innovative, and skillful leadership. They did for the Kingdom of God what not many others have done. These men were spiritual giants—God’s generals. But the day came when they finished their earthly race.
At the time, seeing them was a bittersweet experience for me. I was sad because the reality was that they were not what they once were. Yet I was glad by the reward that most certainly awaited them for running strong and finishing well the race that God had set before them. Looking back on the ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the sorrows and joys of their long and illustrious careers, King David’s words at the end of this psalm, Psalm 144:15, aptly summed up their lives:
Blessed are the people of whom this is true;
blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
These were men of God, and they were blessed. And I am blessed to have their thumbprints all over my life, even to this day.
But time flies, and one day, before I know it, I will be where they are. And when that day comes, what will those who have been under my influence say about me? And what about you? What will they say about the thumbprint you have left on their lives? What kind of legacy are you creating by the way you live in the present? Sobering, isn’t it?
May we treat Moses prayer in Psalm 90 with utmost seriousness,
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. O Lord, teach us to number our days aright so that we might live them wisely! (Psalm 90:10-12)
Yes, Lord, teach us to number our days aright so we might live them wisely.
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