THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS
SERMON STARTER
We often think and conduct ourselves as though there will always be a tomorrow. Yet, human life is uncertain and we are frail. When we consider our ancestors, we have the potential of living a long time. In 1900 an adult male's life span was 47 years. Child mortality back in 1800 was dismal. Forty-three per cent of all children died before 5. Back then a woman would give birth to eight children and might get to raise half of them to adulthood. In 1900 Child Mortality was 165 per 1,000 births. When a child or adult went to bed at night before 1900, they knew their death shroud was hanging in their closets. Before antibiotics, the next infection could kill you. A common cause of death was pneumonia. In 1922 American chemists created insulin in a laboratory. After that diabetics could almost live a full life.
In 1900 Child Mortality was 165 per 1,000 births. When a child or adult went to bed at night before 1900, they knew their death shroud was hanging in their closets. Before antibiotics, the next infection could kill you. A common cause of death was pneumonia. In 1922 American chemists created insulin in a laboratory. After that diabetics could almost live a full life.
In 2000 child mortality rates dropped to 7 per 1,000 births. What caused the drop?
Clean water supplies - Water Purification
Sanitary sewage disposal systems
Medical technology
Inoculation against TB, Polio, Communicable Diseases
Better quality and quantity of food
Milk Pasteurization
When it comes to my personal mortality, a few years ago my Doc (Charles D'Auria) looked me in the eyes and said, "You know, Phil, we're fighting a losing battle." Our days are numbered by God and they are in His Hands. One day a few years ago we were sharing a Eatn'Park breakfast,
"Phil, last year I lost 78 patients." You and I have in my chest a time bomb that will one day stop.
My sermon this morning explores this frailty of human life as seen by both Moses and David. It sounds like morbidity, but there is good news here. I am exploring that from ancient Biblical wisdom.
Pastor Phil <><<
February 5, 2017 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS
Psalm 90:12 - Psalm 39:4-7
"From the time we draw our first breath of air outside the womb and its amniotic fluid, our days are numbered. This earth is only a temporary abode. We will one day lay all the physical stuff down in this life and move on to the life to come." Pastor Phil <><<
THE PRAYER OF MOSES
Psalm 90:12
12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 103:14-16
14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
Moses and David Remind Us to Number of Our Days
I. THERE IS VALUE IN CONFRONTING DEATH - Verse 4
4 "LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
A. Human life is essentially a Terminal Experience
1. Mankind is death avoidant
2. Our culture lives as through there will always be a tomorrow
B. A Jewish Proverb says,
“Every man knows he will die, but no one wants to believe it.”
1. Nothing is so certain in this life that will each of us will die
2. No one will get out of this life. . .alive
3. The exact hour of our death is uncertain
C. The chances of winning a state lottery jackpot are 1 in 4,000,000
1. The chance that you eventually are going to die is 1 in 1
2. British playwright George Bernard Shaw,
"The Statistics on death are awesome, One of One people die."
D. The Value in Confronting Death is Your Immortal Soul - Heb. 9:27
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
1. Leaving this life is a cause for terror for millions
2. Not confronting our own death in this life leaves us w/fear
Thinking About the Number of Our Days Reminds us:
II. LIFE IS SHORT - Verse 4-5
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
A. Human life is as the measure of a hand-span (width of 4 fingers)
THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS, cont., p.2
1. Biological human life has a beginning and an end
2. World-wide present life span is 67 years
3. In the time of David life expectancy was 30 to 35 years
B. The brevity of life was lamented by Job - Job 7:6
6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.
1. James the Half-Brother of Jesus out it this way - James 4:14
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
2. Not even Howard Hughes could wring out another moment
C. Recognize there is a Value in Time
1. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade
2. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby
3. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
4. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train
5. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident
6. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics
7. Treasure every moment that you have life is short
D. Time Poem
When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept
When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked
When I became a full grown man, time ran
And later as I older grew, time flew
Soon I shall find while traveling on, time gone.
1. More Irony in this life
2. We give away our health trying to make more money
3. We spend all our money trying to get our health back
Thinking About the Number of Our Days Reminds us:
III. MAKE THE MOST OF THE LIFE YOU HAVE - Verse 7
7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.
A. Invest Your Time Wisely - Job 14:5 NIV
5 Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months
and have set limits he cannot exceed.
1. Avoid Time-Nibblers / Drainers
2. Let go of the Past - Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS, cont., p.3
B. Redeem the Time - Ephesians 5:16
"Redeeming....the time, for the days are evil “
1. Out-of-Marketplace - EX-AGORA - Out of Life's Mundanity
2. Look for Divine Appointments
3. John Wesley Quote,
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways
you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all
the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
C. Invest your time in what matters most in this life
1. God Matters
2. People Matter
3. At Life's End it won’t matter how much money you made
4. How many Awards you won
5. When life minutes are tallied
a. Did you love God
b. Did you love the people in your life
6. Our greatest enemy is not Death, but an Unlived Life
THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS
Psalm 39:4-7 (NKJV)
4 "LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:4-7New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
Many of you are familiar with the childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep," but I was little surprised to learn that it is a shortened version of an Old English prayer, which goes like this:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
bless the bed that I lie on.
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners to my bed,
four angels there aspread,
two to foot, and two to head,
and two to carry me when I'm dead.
I go by sea, I go by land,
the Lord made me by his right hand.
If any danger comes to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me.
He's the branch, and I'm the flower,
pray God send me a happy hour.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray that Christ my soul will take.
