Life Is Short But God Is Eternal
Photo by Austin Mabe on Unsplash
God Is Awesome
I love to watch tropical thunderstorms! The lightning, wind, rain, and thunder put on a great show, as long as you have shelter to watch it safely. But I don't like driving in these storms!
The power of nature, especially what we call natural disasters, ought to remind us of our Creator's power. It's wise to respect His power. This is an element of godly fear. Understanding who God is and realizing His awesome power is the key to a genuine godly fear. Not anxiety, but respect, awe, and wonder.
It's good to step back from the daily whirl of life and consider God's greatness and our smallness. He is eternal. We have a brief time on this planet. Even when a person lives to be a hundred years old or more, it’s short compared to all of human history.
Eternity can’t be measured as we measure time. It has no beginning or end and is beyond our full understanding. God is eternal. He is the source and origin of life. Each of our lives is precious, yet brief in time, and fragile in light of God’s awesome power.
Scripture
A prayer by Moses, the man of God.
O Lord, you have been our refuge throughout every generation.
Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God. You are God from everlasting to everlasting.
You turn mortals back into dust and say, “Return, descendants of Adam.”
Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day, like yesterday—already past— like an hour in the night.
You sweep mortals away. They are a dream.
They sprout again in the morning like cut grass. In the morning they blossom and sprout. In the evening they wither and dry up. [vss 1-6]
Indeed, your anger consumes us. Your rage terrifies us.
You have set our sins in front of you. You have put our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury. We live out our years like one long sigh.
Each of us lives for 70 years— or even 80 if we are in good health. But the best of them bring trouble and misery. Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who fully understands the power of your anger?
A person fears you more when he better understands your fury. Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom. [vss 7-12]
Return, Lord! How long. . .? Change your plans about us, your servants.
Satisfy us every morning with your mercy so that we may sing joyfully and rejoice all our days.
Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer, for as many years as we have experienced evil.
Let us, your servants, see what you can do. Let our children see your glorious power.
Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us. Make us successful in everything we do. Yes, make us successful in everything we do. [vss 12-17]
(Psalms 90:1-17 GW) [Context– Psalm 90]
Reflections and insights
Moses was a true man of God. A great man in many ways, and yet, he was a person with flaws just as we all are. He saw God’s power displayed in miraculous ways. But Moses also saw God’s people forget the greatness of God and rebel against Him.
This psalm begins the fourth collection of the Psalms. It expresses many contrasts between God and humanity. These contrasts provide a clear frame of reference to see God for who He is in contrast to our life on earth. Moses had his share of life's struggles and deep disappointments. This prayerful psalm is his perspective on life and God. It should help us gain a similar perspective for our own lives.
God sees everything as if it is in HD (high-definition). He sees and knows details we cannot see or know. Our view of life and this world is limited by time, various spatial dimensions, and our capacity to understand it all. The more we understand who God is and our place in time and space, the better we're able to realize true wisdom.
God is eternal, and we aren't. He is a refuge for all those who trust in Him. Our days on earth are numbered, but His kindness and mercy are unlimited because He is sovereign and eternal, mighty yet merciful.
Our life may be limited and numbered in years, but our hope and trust in God enable us to see beyond them by faith. A thousand years are like a single day to the Lord, yet when we take refuge in Him, we are confident He watches over us, as we trust in Him with awe and wonder in our hearts.
We can rejoice in His goodness, mercy, and glorious power. Then we can proclaim, as Moses did, these words of expectant faith—
Let us, your servants, see what you can do. Let our children see your glorious power. Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us. (Psalm 90:16-17a GW)
Reflection—
When were you last impressed with God's power and majesty? Have you taken time lately to pause from your daily routine to reflect on God’s greatness? Our days on earth are numbered, but His kindness and mercy are unlimited. He is sovereign and eternal, mighty yet merciful.
Prayer Focus—
If you find yourself consumed with the daily demands of life, or struggling with difficult circumstances, take some time to pause and reflect on God’s goodness, mercy, and glorious power. Then ask the Lord to give you an eternal perspective and restore your faith in HIm.
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