Psalms 39:4 says, "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"
This reminds me of the game I used to play called “heads or tails.” Flipping a coin into the air, with roughly a 50% chance of it landing on heads, 50% tails, one of the participants comes out a winner and the other a loser.
Psalm 39:4 is like a heads or tails game to me; I can live by faith or fear! But unlike the game, I have some control over the winning or losing…let me explain.
The heads (faith) side: Over the years, I have tried to live with the end (my end) in mind. In my desire to live for God and impact my world for Him, I have tried to understand the reality that David talks about above. Knowing my end helps me to evaluate my life against the reality that I am only here for a fixed number of days, all short in terms of eternity. Hence, I am more prone to prioritize the things that truly matter. What matters most? Loving God and loving others. As a youth, I tended to live without this knowledge – thinking only about my own needs and desires; my end was not in my mind! However, in my twenties, I encountered this verse, and others like it, and I began to allow this truth to shape how I live each day. As I get older, this idea is becoming even clearer to me.
Unfortunately, there is another side of the coin; the tails (fear) side: In my weaker moments, I wrestle with the phrase, “let me know how fleeting I am.” I don’t like that phrase! Other translations use words like, “transient” or “frail,” I don’t care for those either. When I think about this verse in my flesh, I am afraid. It reminds me of the inevitable; my end is coming. Especially in my forties, I began losing friends to cancer or tragic accidents. In my weakness. these losses are like “shots across the bow” of my heart and mind; it’s like death is taunting me, “just so you know, I am coming for you, too!” (Evil laugh)
When I live in fear I lose; I experience anxiety and worry that robs me of energy I could use to please God, serve my family or world. In other words, fear brings stagnation to my spiritual growth by turning my attention away from faith and trust in God.
When I live in faith I win; I can pour my life out as an offering to God which brings a sweet satisfaction that I am pleasing my Lord, serving His purposes, and modeling faith to my children, church, and world.
Good news! Unlike the chances of the actual game, 50/50, I can influence the chances of landing on heads. The scripture says in Hebrews 10:17, “So faith (heads) comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” One thing I can do is to listen to the words of Christ. I can sit under His teaching, read and meditate on His words! I can also do what David said in Psalms 42:11, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil (tails) within me? Hope in God…” David is basically telling his soul to obey him…his soul can be a slave to truth and not the other way around! So, when I feel like I am landing on tails, I have a choice to tell my soul to listen up!
My prayer is that you and I will live in faith. Understanding the brevity of life will then prompt us to use the minutes, days, years that we have left to honor and serve the King.
Heads we win, tails we lose. We choose!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In these tough economic times, this is a good post.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts...
ReplyDelete"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next."
— C.S. Lewis
I think there is great power in keeping the end of this life and the next life clearly in focus.
Fear that results in lack of faith is like a hideous monster that sucks the breath out of us, which is exactly what satan wants. I refuse to let him have me!
ReplyDeleteI will not think of heads or tails the same way again! To often I find fear and anxiety gripping me...thank you for your wise words and insight.
ReplyDeleteGreat words for thought. I am in my 70's and "fleeting" is more and more of a reality for me. Now I tend to dwell on "missed opportunities" that I had to share the gospel with the lost. I know God has forgiven me, even of these oversights, so I will attempt not to miss any future opportunities!
ReplyDeleteBTW, just a correction, the "faith comes by hearing" is from Romans 10:17, not Hebrews 10:17.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow......
Thanks for contributing your thoughts, Jim, Gail, Jesse and Katie!
ReplyDeleteDavid, thanks for pouring this faith brew in the whitespace Faith Barista jam last month. Wonderful to get your personal voice in the sharing! Blessings!
ReplyDelete