Pr Joshua Yong

Only One Life (Psalm 90:10-12)

So quickly the first half of the year has passed and we have already entered into the second half of this year. This brings to mind the poem written by C.T. Studd: 

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

“Only one life, that will soon be past” - These are very weighty and pointed words. It reminds us of how short and transient this life really is. This life we have will soon fly away; it is like a vapour that appears only for a season and then fades away. These are the thoughts Moses expressed in Psalm 90. 

When Moses wrote Psalm 90, he was probably reflecting upon the deaths he had witnessed in the wilderness. When Moses departed from Egypt, he did so with an estimated number of two million Israelites. Because of the people’s sin of unbelief, they were to wander in the wilderness for 40 years; 603,548 fighting men above the age of 20 died in the wilderness because of their disobedience. Moses had to face an estimated number of about 40 deaths every day (excluding women and children). It was within this backdrop that Moses wrote this Psalm. Life is short, and it will soon pass away, but for the Christian, this life can be a life that is most meaningful and fulfilling. 

The death of people around us is not something that we will get used to. We often only begin to recognize the value of life when confronted with death. Yet we do not have to wait until death comes before we consider the importance of this life we live. 

1)   Only One Life That Will Soon Be Past

In verse 10, Moses wrote: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away.”

The emphasis here is on the brevity of man’s life on earth – it is only but 70 years and by the grace of God, some who are of stronger disposition will live for 80 years. Yet their strength during their old age is filled with labour and sorrow. Though their life is prolonged for a moment, it will be days filled with toil, of failing strength, and of fading memory. Finally, man’s life will still be cut off and come to an end. 

Many people recognize and acknowledge the truth of the brevity of life, but few live in the consciousness of it. It may be the temptation, especially for those who are younger, to live as if life will not come to an end. There are those who occupy themselves with aimless and mindless things simply because they think they have plenty of time to waste. There are others who will busy themselves, yet their labour is not for the things of the Lord but is in the vain pursuit of gaining the whole world. Because some are still healthy and strong, they live as if life will continue on for much longer. If only we will realize how short life is and how little time we have, then we will live and serve so differently from how we are doing so now. 

Moses continued in verse 11 to ask, “Who knoweth the power of thine anger?” The question may be rephrased in this manner: “Can anyone measure the power of God’s wrath?” The phrase “power of thine anger” is an interesting expression. It describes how God manifests His power and might even in the exercise of His righteous anger. In the context in which Moses wrote Psalm 90, the anger he was referring to could be the anger manifested towards the Israelites because of their disobedience. Their disobedience was first seen in their refusal to enter the Promised Land when given the opportunity to. Later, they continued to show their rebellious spirit in their murmuring and complaining in the wilderness (Psalm 90:7-9). In God’s dealing with the Israelites even through discipline, God manifested His power and might. 

Moses answered this question in verse 11 by saying that, “even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.” This means that according to the fear which man ought to have of God, so is God’s wrath manifested. In other words, the wrath of God is manifested so that man may learn to have a proper fear of God. The Israelites should have learned to fear God as they witnessed the wrath of God. 

The words which Moses uttered here were words of submission. As Moses reflected on the brevity of man’s life, especially in seeing the many who had died in the wilderness, he submitted unto the Lord with holy fear. This ought also to be our response when we think of the brevity of man’s life. The weakness and the frailty of the body should remind us that we are but man and that we must submit to God who is our Creator. The problem is that we want to be in control of our own lives; we want to determine our own destiny. God is the one who is in control over our life and death. As God has given us life, so He can easily take it away. 

There is also an important lesson which these verses teach. It is that we must not live our lives in God’s wrath. The Israelites were living in God’s wrath because of their constant rebellion and disobedience. They were not content with the provision God had supplied them. Even with the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, with the heavenly manna and the water which flowed out of the rock, they still murmured against God. Life is already so short; how miserable it would be to live this short life that we have in the wrath of God.

Have you submitted your lives unto the Lord? This brings us to the next thought.

2)  Only What’s Done for Christ Will Last

Though life is short, it does not have to be lived in the wrath of God. It can be a life that is meaningful and more importantly, glorifying unto the Lord. 

In verse 12, Moses wrote, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

The way we can live a life that is glorifying to God is, first, to “number our days.” The expression here does not just mean to count the days we have on earth. Some may “number” their days in counting the days that have passed. Others may “number” their days by remembering the special events and occasions in their lives. To “number our days” however does not mean to merely count our days, or to anticipate how many days we may have in the future. The word “number” means to weigh out. It has the idea of “allotting,” “appointing” or “assigning.”  To “number our days” means to assign our remaining days unto profitable and proper use. If we know that we only have limited time left and that life is short, we must then properly appoint and assign the remaining time we have left so that it may be used in a way that will glorify God. 

Do we weigh out the days we have and how we will use them? How much time do we spend in work? How much is spent in recreation and games? Is time set aside for devotion and communion with the Lord? Has time been set aside for service? We are accountable for the life and the remaining days which God has given to us. 

Moses went on to explain that we must number our days“that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” The word “apply” is a very broad word which means “to come.” It carries the idea of “bringing in” or “pulling in.” This means that we must assign our days so that we can use it to bring our hearts unto wisdom. It is not the head but the heart which must be cultivated. The heart describes the place of our will, our desires, and our passions. We must cultivate our hearts unto wisdom. 

The only way this can be done is in the constant meditation upon the Word of God. The studying of and living out the Word of God is how we can apply our hearts unto wisdom. God’s Word is wisdom indeed. There are many who would devote their entire lives to the study of a particular subject or a particular field. These studies, however useful, are only profitable for this physical and natural life. Yet, the study of these books will not make one wise. True wisdom can only be attained in the study and meditation of God’s Word. Since life is short, we cannot waste it away in foolishness. 

The wisdom of God’s Word will enable us to live in a way that will glorify God. With God’s wisdom, we will be able to discern the path God wants us to take; we will be able to guard our hearts against the temptations we face; we will be able to encourage and edify others. Such a life will be most fulfilling and we will be able to say that it is a life that is not lived in God’s wrath. A life that is lived in wisdom will indeed be a life that is lived unto Christ.

Conclusion

Our life is short and it will soon pass. Seeing how life is so short, we ought to treasure it and live it unto Christ. 

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

                                       - C.T. Studd