The Brevity of Life

Articles

Derek Long
09/09/18 - Biblical Authority

The Brevity of Life
By Derek Long
There is value in realizing how brief life is (Psalm
90:12). The Bible contains several statements relating to the brevity of our life upon this earth. Job declares, “Man decays like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue” (Job 13:28-14:2). The Psalmist requests, “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them” (Psalm 39:4-6). God reveals, “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Peter 1:24-25). James teaches us, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). All of the above passages remind us life is swiftly passing. Death will beexperienced by all who do not live until the Lord returns (Hebrew 9:27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Many things in life serve to remind us of the brevity of life. We may encounter some sort of suffering like Job did which reminds us life is short. We may age and realize how quickly the years are passing by. We may realize how short life can be when those around us pass away.
How should realizing the brevity of life impact the way we live?
• Knowledge of the brevity of life should cause us to
recognize our plans are contingent upon God’s will. We often think we will live for a long time and confidently make plans while forgetting we are not promised another moment. Instead of assuming we will have plenty of time to carry out our plans, we need to make our plans based upon God’s will (James 4:13-16). It is also foolish to make plans for our future earthly life while neglecting to prepare for eternity. We may end up dying sooner than we think and our earthly goals will mean very little then (Luke 12:16-21).
• Knowledge of the brevity of life should cause us to do the works God would have us do now. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). For each individual, death will cut us off from certain opportunities we have while alive. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 says, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which
you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” If we are going to develop godly character, teach someone the gospel, etc., we must do so before we die. In addition, after death we will not have the opportunity to make our life right with God (Luke 16:26). Therefore, if we need to seek God’s forgiveness, we need to do so while we still have the time.
• Knowledge of the brevity of life should lead us to see the urgency in teaching others the gospel. The people you and I come into contact with on a daily basis only have a short time upon this earth. If we are going to teach them, there is a limited window of opportunities to do so. Let us heed the instruction of Colossians 4:5, which says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
• Knowledge of the brevity of life should lead us to live with the awareness any day could be the day we depart from this life. For the faithful child of God, departing from this life means going to be with Christ (Philippians 1:21-24). The faithful Christian can look forward to being with the Lord when this life is over. For the lost, this realization should cause one to be filled with terror of falling into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Let’s all remember life in brief and make the necessary preparations to be able to depart and be with Christ when our life is over.