Quick Backdrop
Check this out. Here are the first two verses of the Bible.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2).
Now check this out. Here are the last two verses of the Bible.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Rev. 22:20-22).
Hang out with those verses for a moment—let yourself embrace the fact that you are seeing at the same time the first act of God and what will be the last act of God.
Think about all that has happened and all that will happen between the phrases, “In the beginning,” and, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Go ahead…think about it for a minute. We’ll wait.
The forming of mountains and oceans. The rise and fall of empires. Wars. Peace. Amazing inventions. Your birth. And, unless Jesus’ “coming soon” beats you to it, your death.
The first and last verses of the Bible represent the first and last days of our physical world, including our own lives. Just as the Bible has a first and last verse, your life has a first and last date. The question we should ask ourselves frequently is: What am I doing with the span of time that I’ve been given?
The What
The Bible speaks a lot about our human lifespan, especially in the psalms where apparently many psalmists pondered the subject of our days. Read the passages below from your Bible. As you read, journal your thoughts about things that are said regarding our lifespan.
Psalm 90:12
Psalm 39:4-5
Psalm 102:3
Psalm 139:16
James 4:13-17
It might seem creepy to think about your life having an end date, but Psalm 90:12 says that being aware of our days gives us a heart of wisdom. So there must be benefit to thinking about the span of time that we are given.
The So What
Spend a couple minutes (or longer) in prayer, letting the verses you just read truly sink into your heart. Then, close your time with the exercise below.
To re-emphasize Psalm 90:12, by letting God teach us how to “number our days” we gain a heart of wisdom. This wisdom can come in many forms: gratitude, perspective, appreciation, or a better ability to prioritize. Take a moment to apply this wisdom to some key areas of your life, such as the ones you see listed here. For each area noted, finish the sentence noted below. We’ve given a couple examples.
Because my days are numbered, I will…
Friends
…try to be a more helpful and encouraging friend.
Family
…be more supportive with my sibling(s)/parents.
Bible study…
Prayer life…
Leisure life…
Current job…
Career choice…
Seal the Deal
Now go back to each sentence that you completed and write down one task or action you can do within the next 24 hours to start using the wisdom from “numbering your days.” Don’t let one more day pass without giving this the attention it deserves.
