When I was a child, when December 1st appeared on the calendar I looked with great anticipation toward Christmas day. The days preceding Christmas seemed to move so slowly. I told my grandmother, “I can’t wait for Christmas.” My grandmother wisely responded, “Don’t wish your life away.” Finally, Christmas day arrived and it seemed to fly by so quickly. When I became a parent, I faced the opposite dilemma. When December 1st appeared on the calendar, I couldn’t believe how quickly time sped by – presents to buy, parties to attend; it was coming too quickly.

Perhaps you’ve experienced this dilemma in your life, your perception of time appears to be relative. It’s reported that Einstein explained relativity with this comparison, “When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute—and it’s longer than an hour. That’s relativity.”

Consider the number – 25,550. We discover this number alluded to in Psalm 90. Psalm 90 is one of the oldest Psalms and was written by Moses, the man of God. Moses wrote,

So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

The word “teach” implies this is a truth that we must learn, it doesn’t come naturally. If you multiply 365 x 70 years = 25,550 days. The idea is not to simply count your days, but to make your days count. When you count your days, you realize that your life has a finite number of days and they seem to fly by with increasing rapidity,

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

Imagine you’re going on a two week vacation to Europe. You map out your itinerary and have a detailed schedule to maximize your time. How much time would you spend in your hotel room watching television? Why then do we waste so much time in our everyday life? Thoreau reminds us, “Only that day dawns to which we are awake.” Your days are not only limited, but your days also contain uncertainty since we live in a fallen world,

Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? (Psalm 90:11)

This psalm was most likely composed during a time of rebellion as Moses was leading the people to the promised land. Finally, you must number your days because the way you live your life will determine your future. The truth is every man dies, but not every man truly lives. To live is one of the rarest things, the sad truth is that most people simply exist. Jonathan Swift encourages us to live all the days of your life.

To number your days is to understand and evaluate the brevity of your life and to live in light of eternity. Moses concludes this Psalm with a reminder that we may leave a legacy of God’s favor,

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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