My Times are in Your Hands

Life Lesson 33: Since my life is only but a breath, I must first remember to seek God’s wisdom daily so I can do His will and fulfill my God-given purpose here on earth. When I turn my attention to Jesus, I’m reminded every day that life is a gift, and one of these days I will come face-to-face with my Creator. My prayer is that when He calls me home, heaven will greet me with these joyous words: “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 NLT

The one thing all of humanity must come to terms with is that this life is temporary.  The last couple of years have certainly revealed how fragile life is. Never before have I attended more funerals than I care to count, and there certainly was no partiality in the age range of the friends and loved ones we lost—from 6-months to 97-years-old, from COVID to cancer to other health-related issues, and of course, those who died either suddenly or unexpectedly. The reality remains—life is short and it’s not guaranteed.

Have you ever wondered where you will go after you die? If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, heaven is perhaps not your immediate response to that question, but the good news is that it’s not too late. The most important decision any human being can choose to make is to follow Jesus. God desires that we seek Him. He wants fellowship with us, not because He is lonely, but because He loves us with an everlasting love. When we take a step of faith to discover who He is, the Bible tells us we gain a heart of wisdom. The best part of knowing Jesus is, while we are still living, we can rest assured that when we die, we get to spend eternity with Him. Just imagine the privilege we have to live with Jesus in heaven forever. What a blessed hope to know that there is a perfect hereafter.

Our earthly life is only for a brief moment, so we must keep in view that the choices we make today will have eternal consequences. What are you striving for today? Is it to further God’s Kingdom or is it to further “your kingdom” here on earth?  We must choose wisely the path we will take. Everything on earth including our possessions, power, position, and prestige is all temporary and will one day fade away. Psalm 90 paints a vivid picture of God’s judgment of sin and drives home the truth of our temporal existence. In verse 10, we are told, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10 NLT).

That Scripture should be a warning to us all to turn our hearts toward heaven and seek the things of God. Proverbs 2 highlights the benefits of godly wisdom. In this passage, God lovingly encourages His children to obey Him and cherish His Word. He said, “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-6 NLT). Seek Jesus now while you still have a chance. As long as you have breath in your body, you have a tremendous opportunity to turn and follow Jesus. He will gladly welcome you with open arms and eternal love.

In James 4:14 NLT, the apostle challenges his readers and warn them about self-confidence. Nothing is wrong with making plans for the future, but while you are planning, keep in mind that your life is not your own, and it is certainly not in your hands. In verse 14, James continued by posing a thought-provoking question to us all: “ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?” The honest answer is, “I don’t know” and you don’t either. He followed up with an important reminder, “Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”  How true that is. We’re told in James 4:17 NLT to “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” What then must you do right now? You must seek the Lord.

Today may be your only opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When we learn to number our days and recognize that our times are in God’s hands, we no longer seek the things of this world. Instead, we pursue the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, and eternal love without fear, knowing that when our time here on earth comes to an end, we will immediately be in His beautiful and holy presence. How wonderful it is to imagine what it will be like to be in the glorious presence of God. My dear brothers and sisters, don’t wait to give your heart to Jesus. He’s waiting for you right now. Remember, time is not in your hands. Turn to Him now so that you are ready to meet Him when you come to the end of life here on earth.

“For the child of God, death is not the end but merely the door into a higher and more exalted life of intimate contact with Christ. Death is but the dark valley opening out into an eternity of delight with God. It is not something to fear, but an experience through which one passes on the path to a more perfect life.” — W. Phillip Keller

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