Life is Short

As my age increases, my realization of the brevity of life increases. I've been married five years now, I'm in the third decade of life, and I have a daughter who's speedy growth continually reminds me that every moment is precious. The older I get, the more I feel the brevity of life and how fleeting the things we chase after are.

Psalm 39:4-6 (ESV) says, "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
Surely man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

The Psalmist here is asking God to make him know just how short life is. He compares our lives to being a breath. How quick is a breath? We do it without thinking about it! Compared to eternity that's how quick this life is. We blink and then we're gone.

What would change in our lives if we could keep this mindset? What would change if we continually remembered how fleeting we are? 

Would you stay off social media a little more? Would you spend more time teaching your kids about God and the things that really matter in life? Would sports and other leisurely activities become a little less of a big deal? Would you spend more time creating things that would last even after you're gone?

Besides the ever present reminders in His word (see Ecclesiastes), God gives us moments in life to remind us that life is short. These moments should cause us to reflect on if we're making it count. Funerals, tragedies, illnesses, injuries, and major milestones are all occurrences where we're given the chance to reflect on what we're doing in life and decide if it really matters. 

Let this be a moment for you. What are you doing? How much time are you wasting? Does it really matter? Are you sharing the gospel; are you making disciples? Are you investing in things that will last or things that will pass away when you do?

In closing, I will leave you with these words from Shai Linne:

I wanna see new birth and bound kids free
What good is making many waves if it tends to fade?
I'm trying to produce works that outlive me
So God can use my pen to save when I'm in the grave