Several years ago, a good friend of mine alerted me to a book he was reading.  The book was Denial of Death by Ernest Becker and to say the least, my friend found it engaging.  To this day I have not read the book, however, I do like the title.  I really believe that most people live in denial of death.  Most people are willing to admit that death is inevitable, but few people live lives that reflect that reality.  While reading Psalm 39, I was struck by verses 4-7.

“O Lord, make me to 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!  Surely a man goes about as a shadow!  Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!  And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?  My hope is in you.”

How remarkable!  Instead of desiring to forget about his mortality, King David was praying that God would teach him to number his days.  David prayed this because he didn’t want to waste the few days God granted him.  Instead, he wanted to be an effective servant of the Lord for as long as he lived.  Friend, we don’t know how long we will live.  You might live to be 100, or you might die tomorrow.  Whatever the case, life is short when set against the backdrop of eternity.  The best thing we can do is to be faithful today, and if God grants us another day, to be faithful tomorrow.

Life is short, life is fleeting, life is precious, and life is a gift.  Give your life to Jesus and serve him for the remainder of your days, always remembering that today could be your last.