Today is Important, Count It!

I live in an old house and on an old home place. There is a barn on my property that is over a hundred years old. It is made of logs and one can still see the marks of the axe that hued the timbers. It is full, no doubt, of forgotten memories of the people that once walked through it and worked around it. There are laughs and tears, hurts and happy moments that are now lost and forgotten forever. Days, which at the moment, seemed more important than anything in the world. Yet, time came and is erasing each as if they never happened. Days that were numbered, used up and then lost forever.

 

Psalm 90 is a psalm ascribed to Moses. It is the only Psalm definitely credited to him.

He apparently wrote the words at or near the end of the forty-year wilderness trek just prior to his death. He has watched Israel, those twenty and older, die along the way. Possibly over a hundred everyday may have slipped into eternity. Moses, in watching this realizes that they average around 70 years on the earth and 80 if they were strong enough. It is with this realization that Moses prays and ask God to teach us to number our days and apply wisdom to our hearts concerning the time we have on this earth.

 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:10-12 KJV

 

Of this scripture Spurgeon penned:

Count how many days have gone. Will not the time past suffice us to have wrought the will of the flesh? You cannot tell how few remain, but still, if you live to the longest period of life, taking that for granted which you may not take for granted, how little remains! Oh! that we might by the shortness of life, be led to apply our hearts unto wisdom, so as to live wisely. And what is the best way of living wisely, but to live in Christ, and live to God?

 

God, teach us to number our days! It is important for individuals to number their days and make the most of the years they have on earth for the glory of God.

Since the Israelites wandering in the wilderness died relatively young for their time, it seems reasonable to think that they probably were not aware of their approaching end. In other words, death had a tendency to slip up on them and catch them off guard. Consequently, they missed how important it was for them to recognize the significance of each day of life.

Each day was a blessing – an event to be numbered with gratitude but they failed to see that.

 

It is a wise person that will number their days and use them to prepare for eternity and produce something that will touch tomorrow. Numbering our days is not always a happy task. It is often filled with nostalgia, melancholy and memories that have sad reflections. Some people convince themselves that there is plenty of time to think about the end of life, to deal with eternal issues.

The rich fool procrastinated dealing with the state of his life and was only concerned with building something greater for himself. Scripture calls him a fool because that night his days were finished. (Luke 12:16-21)

It is a wise person that set priorities and refuses to ignore the urgency of today and counting their days while considering the importance of eternity.

 

“Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn’t buy one extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure? Remember, you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted, you cannot get it back.”

 

Before I plan my days I want God to write His plans upon my heart. I will number my days well when I trust God for the details. Numbering well happens when I open His Word and listen to Him speak through the pages. It happens when I pore out my heart in prayer. It happens when I lift my heart in worship and thanksgiving.

 

Much of what will fills our calendar are daily tasks of little consequence. A year from now, they’ll be forgotten. But when we yield our day to God, when we allow Him to work in us however he chooses, the mundane can become divine. Numbering our days aright isn’t accidental. It begins with a choice, a choice to seek God first. Perhaps that is the first thing you should write on your calendar for tomorrow, no, start it today.

 

Review yesterday prayerfully and honestly.

Encounter God before encountering the day.

Schedule time to spend studying your Bible.

Turn each calendar entry into a prayer.

Ask Jesus to help you see His opportunities each day.

Touch something regularly that will outlive you.