Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
HELP ME TO GET READY
The story is told of a little girl name Margie who returned home from church one Sunday morning, walked into the kitchen, and said to her mom (who had gone there to prepare the noon meal): "Mama, our Sunday School teacher told us today that God puts people in the world so they can get ready for heaven." As her mother opened the oven door to check the pot roast, she replied: "Yes, dear, that's right. That's what the Bible says." The little girl paused for a moment, wrinkled up her little forehead into a frown, and asked with a tone of puzzlement in her voice: "Then how come I don't see anybody getting ready?" She'd made the observation (kids are quite perceptive, you know, more than we adults realize sometimes) that people were so preoccupied with the activities of their lives here that they were forgetting about making preparations for their lives in the world to come.
We all are susceptible to this weakness. In the hurry and scurry of our lives on earth it's easy to forget that this present life is a preparation time for the much more wonderful life to come which Jesus has in store for us. We're tempted to give prominence to earthly cares, hobbies, and pastimes while allowing the things that pertain to our eternal happiness to fall into the background. How important it is that we pray with the psalmist: "Heavenly Father, teach me to make the most of my time so that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Help me to use the days of my life in a way that they will stretch out in the sure direction of my heavenly home. Give me an abiding love for Your Word. Pour out on me the priceless blessings that come from faithful hearing and learning of Your Word."
As we do these things we may rejoice to know the Holy Spirit will use that Word to nurture and sustain our faith in Jesus. With our hopes for forgiveness, life, and salvation anchored in Him we are ready for His return whenever it happens.
