The days of our lives are a matter of eternal consequence. Here you must decide your eternal destiny in a place called heaven or a place called hell. Psalm 90 is a psalm of Moses the man of God. Let’s look at three points from this portion of Moses’ thought-provoking psalm.

First, note the expectancy of life. Psalm 90:10a reads, “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years.” Remember Moses lived 120 years, so this seems to refer to an average life expectancy. Some live much less than the life expectancy and others live much longer, like Methuselah, who lived 969 years. Robert H. Smith penned the following timely words:

“The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.”

Second, note the evaluation of life. Psalm 90:10b reads, “Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow.” Keep in mind that this psalm was written by Moses, who led the Hebrews to journey from Egyptian bondage to the liberty of the Land of Promise in Canaan. Moses knew a lot about “labor and sorrow” related to the plight of his people.

Third, note the end of life. Psalm 90:10c reads, “For it is soon cut off and we fly away.” We are here reminded of the lyrics of the song, “Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away.” We know Moses’ life ended on Mt. Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:48-50). Hebrews 9:27 reads, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 reads, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” James 4:13-16 reads, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; 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. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

Moses also writes, “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-16, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” These are some lessons to learn about the days of our lives.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.