"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting to those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."
Our current passage provides a poignant reminder that our days are fleeting.
"As for man, his days are like grass...."
I grew up in Northern California, and those who are familiar with the region know how perpetually dry it can be- with hills that are yellowish-brown for 95% of the year. On the off occasion that it rains, the hills turn green almost immediately- but even within a week or two without rain, they go back to their default hue.
The Psalmist tells us that our lives are like that too.
"...the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place remembers it no more."
Not only are our earthly lives transient, we are fragile- we are gone with the wind, so to speak. It doesn't take much to unmoor us from the illusions of success, safety, and comfort we often strive so hard to obtain. As much as we may try to plan for contingencies, we are always susceptible to loss- be it an unanticipated loss of a family member, losing a job, or losing a treasured friendship/relationship.
If that wasn't bad enough- we're reminded that we are forgotten- "its place remembers it no more."
As people grow older, it's natural to look back on one's life and consider whether their life counted for something. And in our society which often embodies hyper-capitalistic tendencies- we often mistaken activity and productivity for significance. An underlying fear of our own insufficiency and inadequacy will always have us asking ourselves whether we are "enough".
"Did I provide my kids enough academic/social/spiritual enrichment through their summer activities?"
"Have I done enough to make sure I have the life that I want for myself (or for my family)?"
"Have I done enough to care for those around me that they would remember me fondly?"
"What kind of legacy will I leave when I die?"
"But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting to those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."
What a contrast, and what a comfort! Though our lives are fleeting, fragile, and forgotten- the LORD's love for those who fear him never ends...and if God's love for his people never ends...that implies that his people will not come to an end either.
Ultimately God demonstrated his steadfast love toward us in giving us Jesus Christ. Through His sinless life, his suffering sacrifice on the cross to pay the debt of our sin, and his death-defeating resurrection- He secured our rightful place as heirs of eternal life that begins even now, adopted into His family to live and reign with Him forever. Praise be to God for his indescribable gift!
So EACF, may the steadfast love of the Lord be the anchor of your soul- may the good news of Jesus Christ never cease to amaze you, and may the Lord teach us to number our days, that we may gain hearts of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Grace,
Mike
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