Devotional: Man’s Days are Numbered

Job 14:5, “Man’s days are determined, you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”

Death is a reality of sobering thought for every person! We don’t know when or how it will come, but we do know it will come. Scripture tells us that our days are numbered by the Lord. If we knew the length of our days we might have adequate time for anticipatory grief, but at the same time, it would be a little scary, even for the spiritually prepared. As I often say, “I’m prepared, but not in a hurry.”

By “prepared”, I mean at peace in my relationship with God. The Christian believes that you can be prepared for death through faith in Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice for sin. Jesus has promised eternal for those who believe in Jesus and receive salvation (John 3:16). This is achieved through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Scripture tells us that “if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Scripture also tells us, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God- not of works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift of God, that cannot be earned or purchased. Confession of sin and receiving Christ by grace through faith are necessary preparation for the afterlife. With our days numbered, everyone needs to make preparations for the afterlife. In the Christian worldview, there is peace with God, access to God, and there is eternal hope. Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”