Ps 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of
strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and
sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 12 So teach us to
number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Gen 6:3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever,
for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty
years.”
During prayer, I was reminded to "number my days". How are we to number
our days, and in doing so, gain wisdom to live our lives. This is a
fallen world, and our lives are limited in the number of days after the
flood. But surely if we were to live till 120 years, we should still
have the strenght of our youths when we are in our early forties.
When we number our days, we begin to have wisdom on how to live each
day. For example, the Christian church/ Love Singapore will be more wise
in the GLBT issues knowing their focus is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
not take on the role of the religious pharisees and be found to be
religious hypocrites. When we begin to number our days, we begin to ask
whether the things we do matters eternally and brings focus in this
world of materialistic aspirations, intellectual humanism and religious
self righteousness.
During the past 6 months, I realised that medical and living costs can
be substantial, and if we intend to live out the full number of our days
to 120 years then we would have to work backwards at age 120 and see how
to live till that age:-
a. Taking care of the body
- we are stewards of the life God has given us. There is a
responsibility to take care of our body in doing all the necesarry
medical tests (ultrasounds/ CTs) and medical treatments very early. Our
body deteriorates without measures to limit this such as strong
anti-oxidents. What we eat should be measured with less of the harmful
substances such as salt, sugar, fats, alcohol, cholesterol, protein
overload, acidic foods. Hence, we receive wisdom to eat prudently and
selectively.
The world before the flood when mankind lived to a thousand years is
actually rumoured to be warmer, higher oxygen content. The New Scientist
Magazine reported March 11, 2000 that ancient air trapped Amber has 35%
oxygen versus our 21%. The bible talks of a firmanent or a canopy of
water that fills the earth stratosphere. It is wise to increase our
cellular oxygen level by taking appropriate supplements which can also
wards of some diseases and cancers.
b. Taking care of our finances
- we work partly for satisfaction, but mostly just to survive and have
food on the table, and a place to sleep at night. We labor and toil our
days with sweat and in the British post-colonial days die a few months
after we retire at 55. When sickness befalls us, it takes alot of money
to get treated properly and to detect the illness early. Hence, it is
important to establish a supplementary constant income to live and rest
for the remainder of our days without toiling. Hence, we become mindful
to spend only the necesarry so that we can enter to rest earlier.
We live in a materislistic world where we live for today and for
enjoyment rather than for tommorow. The bible calls us not to owe any
money and not be in debt ie to live within our means. We need God's
grace that we can have wealth and financial security in a world where it
is difficult just to survive. But the bible promises us supernatural
blessings of Abraham through Jesus Christ.
c. Taking care of our spirituality
- All said just like Enoch, we may go home very early to God in heavenly
chariots. In a post modern world where religious humanism/relativity
battles in out with increasing religious fervency, it is important to
stay focused in the centrality of Christ and to walk with God.
It is important to attend churches where the presence and annointing of
God dwells like a stairway/portal to heaven to heal, bless, prosper, and
strengten and where the Word of God is being taught with balance and
reflection of the five fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist,
Pastor, and Teacher.
A broader theological outlook would help as we often view the world with
our filtered glasses opposing everything of the mega churches and
preoccupation with the power structures of society and the salvation
only in terms of a more equitable society on earth. It takes wisdom to
discern whether our effort in Churches where the preaching is either to
the extreme left or right is the best use of time or spurs our spiritual
growth.
We live by our daily bread. The entire meal is partaking communion of
bread and wine of Christ broken body and blood shed not only giving
thanks for the food. It is in reflection of Christ death and
resurrection as the way, the truth and the life, that we may receive
grace and mercy from God so that at the end of our lives it could be
said that we have walked with God.
We are not to seek God's plans for us, but to seek the Holy Spirit, His
annointing and presence. For the Holy Spirit leads us just like the
nature of the wind that no one can tells from whence it comes.
d. Taking care of others.
We live in a family of relatives, friends, and partner.
When we number our days, they are part of our lives to be treasured and
we remember them in our visitations and conversations building
relationships. At the end of our lives, few would miss working
harder, but people we will miss. With time, we will not be able to see
them soon. Treasure them while there is daylight.
e. Taking care of our legacy.
When we go home to heaven whether tommorow or 100 years time, what is
the legacy that we will leave behind. It is not only what we will be
remembered for, but finding in our lives the work God has put the
passion to extend the Kingdom of God. And this work is varied from
serving in churches, helping the sick, the marginalised, the poor,
writing theological reflections, or being a missionary taking the Gospel
to the ends of the earth etc.
No calling is the same and we all have our different journeys and our
own gospel story to write. It doesn't need to be something big but that
which we know in our hearts that we have tried to walk in the calling
God has for us whether we succeed or fail is irrelevant.
Many of us like Apostle Paul would certaintly want to go back early to
heaven and meet up with Jesus to escape this world of suffering, pain
and toil. And God, may certaintly take us home early. However, many are
called to live upto 120 years that their lives may be a blessing to
many. And we can only live long, if we number our days. Whatever comes,
our eternity in Christ is assured.
Therefore number our days with the assurance of salvation in Christ, and
that our lives may be a blessing of God's grace and mercy to all whether
we live another day or another 100 years.
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