The words of our title have their roots in Psalm 90. There the clear admonition is to make full use of our life, regardless of the length of those days.
All too often we see the name and picture of someone we know in the newspaper and it has an effect on us. Though we learn through the years that death is part of life, we must not only know that intellectually, but also practically. In the last few years we have learned that lesson all too well. Here in Dripping Springs we have seen the death of young and old alike, and we know that is not going to change.
Death is one factor that is common to all living beings. When you read the long list of the patriarchs in Genesis 5, the term that characterized those men of old is the term, “and he died.” Illness and hospitals remind us of the imminence of death. Doctors and pharmacies can serve to remind us of the threat of death. In many ways, as unpleasant as these reminders may be, they can be an important blessing for each of us. Death awaits us all, and for some, we think that it comes too soon.
Job suffered through many troublesome times, and he wrote several things about life and death:
“Manthatisborn of awoman isoffew days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:6
Yes, trouble, sickness and death are part of life for all of us. That has been so since sin came between man and His Creator.
“My days areswifterthana weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.” Job 7:6
“What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?” Job 6:11
For Jacob, Rachel’s death came too soon, Genesis 35:16-20. For Jacob, though mistaken, the news of Joseph’s death came too soon, Genesis 37:35.
For David, the news of the death of his friend, Jonathan, was too soon, 2 Samuel 1:4. And when the news came to David of the death of his son, Absalom, it was too soon. His words were filled with the obvious pathos that a father feels for his son:
“The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33
Absalom’s death had come much too soon for his father, David, who suffered pangs of regret.
The psalmist spoke of the death of man, saying:
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts untowisdom.”Psalms 90:10,12
Is life truly filled with sorrow? Were these men speaking truth when they spoke of the problems of life, and the “trouble” that accompanies death? One quality of inspiration is the fact that a writer’s inner feelings, along with his vocabulary and background, are used in those things he wrote. Solomon had many things to say from the viewpoint of his life near the end of his days. Looking back he could see the folly of some of the paths he took and dealt with the fact that at one time he looked at life with a jaundiced, sorrowful eye. In Ecclesiastes 7:1-3 Solomon wrote:
“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”
Is Solomon being unduly negative? Perhaps, but here we see that there are positives about death, even when it comes “too soon” for us. There can be great rejoicing in the time of death if one is ready to meet God in judgment. Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus, but that weeping may have been for bringing Lazarus back to this earth with all its troubles and woes.
Paul uttered the thoughts of many Christians when he wrote:
“I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” Philippians 1:23
Is it not obvious? How we have faced life determines how we can and will face death. It often comes quickly and without warning.
Have you been thinking of being prepared for death? Even a death that comes “too soon”?
