Our lives are jammed full of things to do, places to go, tasks to tackle, and obligations to meet. The world is moving faster than the speed of social media, and time is flying through our fingers like rope from a runaway sail. What can we do about it? Let me suggest a good dose of Psalm 90, which is one of the greatest treatises ever penned on the subject of time, eternity, and the span of our lives.
The Eternity of God
Psalm 90 begins with a mind-boggling affirmation: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth… from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (verses 1-2). The Bible tells us God existed before the mountains were made or the world was formed. He is the Creator of time, above time, unaffected by the passing of time. He inhabits eternity. It’s a truth beyond our finite minds to grasp. The Bible tells us that from God’s perspective, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
The Brevity of Life
Moses went on in Psalm 90 to contrast God’s eternal nature with the brevity of our lives. He compared us to grass, which springs up in the morning and is mowed down in the evening (verse 6). Other biblical passages reinforce this. Job 7:6 says our days are “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” According to Psalm 78:39, our lives are like a wind that passes and doesn’t return. James compares them to a mist or vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes, and Isaiah says we’re like daylilies that bloom in the morning and fade in the evening (James 4:14; Isaiah 40:6).
This is extremely depressing for those without Christ. It’s so depressing that Jesus Christ came to do something about it. The whole purpose of the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ was to provide hope to the world and everlasting life to all who receive Him by faith.
The Gravity of Time
That leads us to consider the gravity of time and the urgency of claiming our moments and using our minutes wisely. In Psalm 90, Moses went on to say, in effect, that since God is eternal and our earthly lives so brief, we’re to count our days and present God with a heart of wisdom (verse 12). We’re to make each day count for eternity.
How do we manage our time so we’re accomplishing what God intends? Time is a gift that comes to us from a royal source each day, bright and sparkling, untouched and unspoiled. Each day we receive a fresh, new supply: 24 hours; 1,440 minutes; 86,400 seconds. How well did you invest your time last year?
First, remember that God has placed us on earth with a set of assigned tasks, and our time doesn’t belong to us—it belongs to Him. Psalm 139:16 says, “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me.” God has planned our work and the days required to accomplish it. Our times are in His hands, and so are our tasks. This mindset is at the core of our stewardship of time.
Second, we must declutter our schedules. If your life is jammed with activities, there’s a good chance you’re doing some things God really hasn’t assigned. Look at your obligations for the new year. What can you delete? Is there something good you can leave out, allowing more time for the best?
Third, take advantage of small segments of time. Sometimes it’s hard to devote a whole week to a project, or even a day. But it’s amazing what we can do with fifteen minutes here and an extra moment there.
Fourth, make sure you take time for the most important things. Sometimes we need to take stock of our lives and make some changes in our priorities and agendas. Make sure you order and arrange your days so you’ll have time for Bible study, prayer, and a regular appointment with Him. When we seek Him first, everything else will fall into place and be added to us (Matthew 6:33).
This year, I hope you’ll count your days and claim the time. If so, you’ll live life to its fullest. Instead of being a slave to the clock, you can gain mastery over the hours. You can seize the wisdom to serve the Master with all your moments and all your days.
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David Jeremiah is the founder and host of Turning Point for God and the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. For more information about
Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
