There Are No Promised Days
By George J. Stroh
September 15, 2014
Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. (Psalm 39:4)
So far, by God's grace, I have been alive for more than 25,250 days. For those of you that are math challenged, that means I'm 69 years old and closing in on 70! As the old joke goes; "If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."
I am reminded that there are no promised days and that God alone knows exactly the extent of our lives; Since his days are determined, the number of months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:5). While I don't know the total number of days God has ordained for me, I do know that I have far few fewer days ahead than behind me.
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not complaining about getting older and closer to death. I doubt anyone looks forward to the dying process, but as Christians, we know that physical death (or the Rapture of the Church if that come first) immediately ushers us into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better! (Philippians 1:21-23)
Knowing that there are no promised days, we would be wise to follow the example of the great puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, who sought to keep the following resolutions:
"Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world (heaven), as I possibly can. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell's torments."
There are no promised days... But there is the promise of eternal life in Christ! Maranatha!
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