Psalm 39:4-8 — Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
One of my brothers died last week. I was not expecting it. He was only four years older than me.
We were not close, my brother and me, but we were family, and now there’s a gap in my life where he used to be. The tooth may not have been the soundest, but when you lose it your tongue keeps finding that gap …
The authors of the Book of Common Prayer understood death. They brought together scriptures that bring the certainty of death and the opportunity of redemption into clear focus. At every moment we are but a footstep from the grave, and every death must bring the certainty and opportunity to mind. For Myra and me, as we get older, it is a sad reality that we attend more and more funeral and memorial services and the focus is ever sharper.
I know that at my (long ago) physical best I was no great specimen. At the height (not very high) of my career success I was no titan of industry. At my best state I have been altogether vanity and yet …
Depending on no resource of this world, I know I can depend on God. It is He that I wait for. With Job I can say, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”. My Redeemer it is who has paid my ransom, and will clear me of the blood guilt that attaches to all my transgressions. Whatever my sins — and they are many — I know that Jesus has delivered me from them, and I can say to any that wish to blame me for them that I know my Redeemer liveth.
My heart is broken that I cannot say the same for my brother. I don’t really know. But I am going to take that leap of faith that says I don’t need to know. I know that my God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”. I expect to see my brother again.
I expect to see my brother again soon. I must know that although I do not know the measure of my days, “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.” My end is coming, and that right soon. And if I do not die, then I will see Jesus return. My hope is in Him.
If you are reading this, and you do not share my certainty about where you will spend eternity, please know that your end comes shortly too. It is time to admit that you are a sinner in need of redemption, that you believe Jesus died to pay for sins, and that He is the Son of God and your Lord. Please do it now!