I’m sure you are all aware of COVID-19 and all of the information circulating the internet. The world seems to be in panic mode. Store shelves are empty of the basics and essentials. Limit 2 on anything you can think of. Don’t worry, this post isn’t about the Coronavirus. It’s about what to do in the unknown of it all.
This morning during my time of prayer, I told God I didn’t know what to believe right now. With the bombardment of information, from reliable and unreliable sources, who knows what is truth and what is not right now? I’ve decided to quarantine myself from social media for a while. It’s actually stressing me out seeing everyone two cents on it.
As I made my confession to God this morning, I asked Him to give me wisdom. Do I need to panic? Do I need to stock up? What do I need to do to prepare? Do I even need to worry about it? I don’t know that I have ever heard the audible voice of God, but this morning it was like the Holy Spirit whispered this verse me:
“Teach us to number our days carefully, so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”
Psalm 90:12
I went and read the whole of Psalm 90. It’s worth taking the time to read, so here it is in it’s entirety. Read it slowly. For some it may be a familiar passage, but take a minute to really let this sink in.
Psalm 90
Eternal God and Mortal Man
A prayer of Moses, the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our refuge
in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God.
3 You return mankind to the dust,
saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
4 For in your sight a thousand years
are like yesterday that passes by,
like a few hours of the night.
5 You end their lives; they sleep.
They are like grass that grows in the morning—
6 in the morning it sprouts and grows;
by evening it withers and dries up.
7 For we are consumed by your anger;
we are terrified by your wrath.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days ebb away under your wrath;
we end our years like a sigh.
10 Our lives last seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of your anger?
Your wrath matches the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.[e]
13 Lord—how long?
Turn and have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love
so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us,
for as many years as we have seen adversity.
16 Let your work be seen by your servants,
and your splendor by their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands—
establish the work of our hands!
Note the heading of this chapter: Eternal God and Mortal Man. This morning, as I read this Psalm, I was reminded of the frailty of humanity. Our days our numbered, we will all come to an end. We need to live in light of eternity! God has been and will be our refuge. From eternity to eternity, He is God. None of this is taking Him by surprise. He is not in a panic. I don’t know why He is allowing it, but maybe, it is for us to get our focus back on Him.
The middle of this chapter reminds me that my sin is ever before God. Nothing is done in secret, He sees it all. It is after this awareness, that in the light of His presence my sin is revealed, we are told how short our lives are. Living with eternity in mind means we put aside our sin, our desires, our ways, and seek to please the Lord. Praise God for the forgiveness of sins through His Son, Jesus Christ! I don’t have to live in fear of God’s wrath because I have been redeemed.
But what will I do with my redemption? Will I rob grace and continue to live my own way and say God will have to forgive me? Or will I clothe myself in His righteousness and walk in obedience to His will and ways? Will I keep the love of Jesus to myself or be bold and share it with those around me, especially in such times as these. I dare say, people are looking for hope, and we have the greatest hope to offer! Share more than your extra toilet paper. Give them Jesus.
May we number our days carefully today. We aren’t promised tomorrow. May we value what is most important, today! May we have hearts that are turned towards wisdom. May eternity be on our hearts and our minds not only today, but until the day the Lord calls us home. May we share the hope of Jesus Christ and lead people to Him.
