Number your days

 

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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