David prayed in Psalm 39: 4, “Show me Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. He needed to prepare for eternity by amending his ways to fit God’s purpose before death. He asked God because Colossians 2: 3 says, in God is hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Sadly, many have died unprepared for lack of knowledge about when eternity will strike. Hosea 4: 6 says, my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Why must we know our end?
Knowledge of how and when life will end; and how uncertain life is, will sober us, and spur us on for good works in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 8: 10 says, choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold. God’s instruction is in his word: John 1: 1 says, the word was God; the Holy Spirit: John 16: 13 says, he will guide you into all the truth (what we must know); his true servants: Luke 16: 29 says, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them; and our conscience: Luke 12: 57 says, “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right!?
Eager to amend his ways timely, David prayed in Psalm 90: 12, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Wisdom and knowledge guide us to prepare for eternity. Only God knows our end, and its nature. So, Psalm 39: 5 says, you have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. By life’s fleeting nature, Ephesians 5: 16 says, make the most of (redeem the times) every opportunity, because the days are evil.
How will we know our end?
To redeem the times or to maximize every opportunity given to us, God has shown the steps in Revelation 3: 20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. When we admit Jesus into our hearts, Revelation 2: 10 says, be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Expounding, 1Thessalonians 4: 7 says, God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Concurring, 1Peter 1: 15 says, but just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.
Scripture says in Psalm 90: 10, 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. Even so, we don’t know exactly the time, place and how it will end. There are also exceptional circumstances by which God may prolong or diminish our lives. To Hezekiah, God said in 2Kings 20: 6, I will add fifteen years to your life. However, to Moses, God said in Numbers 20: 12, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I gave them.”
How uncertain are our days?
David prayed thus, in anticipation of the uncertainties of life. He said in Psalm 102: 11, my days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. He also said in Psalm 103: 15-16, the life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Peter compared life with the word of God and said in 1Peter 1: 24, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
David sincerely acknowledged he was racing against death. He was therefore eager to know his end so he would amend his past. Jesus said in 1John 1: 8-10 say if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We are in the midst of death
David prayed to God on many occasions to be rescued from death. He prayed in Psalm 9: 13, Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death. He prayed in Psalm 13: 3, Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. Psalm 22: 11-21 say, do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help… I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint… Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet… Rescue me from the mouth of the lions, save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
David wisely addressed the death which engulfed him daily. Proverbs 14: 32 says even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. On the contrary, in the face of death, many seek refuge away from God. Once we engage in sin, we enter into a covenant with death. The time to annul it is now, and the person to annul it is Christ Jesus. Only the Lord knows our end from our beginning. May we plead with God to reveal our end to us. John 8: 32 says, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Reflection
We must prepare with wisdom and knowledge for the unknown day of the Lord’s coming. 1 Thessalonians 5: 2 says, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Should Jesus come at this hour, how will our end be? What will be our security in him? Will he say to us, good and faithful servants, or depart you workers of iniquity? May we wise up with knowledge in Christ Jesus!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, please let us know our end, and the measure of our days so we may apply wisdom to escape from eternal death in anguish. Have mercy on us and by your Holy Spirit, prepare us as you will for your glory in your blessed holy name, we pray, Amen!!
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