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In the eyes of nature, January 1st, 2021 was…well, ‘just another day’. In fact, every New Years Day, Christmas Day, anniversary, birthday, and all other specially recognized dates are ‘just another day’ as far as the creation and the unceasing march of time is concerned.
It is we humans who mark, recognize, remember and celebrate particular points on the calendar. This is necessary in order for us to measure the passage of time in relation to goals, plans, accomplishments, and aging. Ahhh, aging, that sobering truth we all must face. In Psalm 39:4, the request is made “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” This has been the unconscious and sometimes unconscious query of every human throughout time.
Our focus becomes clear as we use this measure to motivate, account for, and give our lives direction. Without this, we would simply float through life devoid of direction and accomplishments and would, in fact, become useless, self-defeated, and eventually extinct.
The debate of our individual length of days on earth rages on from Genesis 6:3, which says in part “…: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” to Psalm 90:10, which says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” However, the conclusion in Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” The days of our lives matter not so much in the unknown and uncertainty of their number, rather in our contribution to the quality of life for others and the security of our personal relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The recognition of a new year is not so much about accomplishing another milestone but should be a reminder to “apply our hearts to wisdom”. To redeem the time spent on poor decisions and actions and thrust us towards stable, practical thoughts and activities that enhance the quality of life experiences for us and generations to come. Let us use our “days” in a manner that promotes success and not regrets because they are limited in number.
Our geographical location determines the type of weather we experience daily. It might be cold, cloudy and grey, hot and humid, rainy and stormy, or simply sunny and breezy as we usually get here in the Caribbean. The excellent news is that God’s grace and daily mercies are freely available to all on the Earth who desire it. Lamentations 3:22-23 assure us, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
The past year has certainly changed the order and expectations of our days, but change has been constant since the creation. As we rise to the challenge of the days ahead, let us have confidence that the same Jesus our Lord will always be with us to strengthen and guide us no matter our days’ changing experiences.
Let me take this moment to offer condolences and prayers of comfort to all those who have in any way been affected by the loss of life due to the coronavirus disease. Without any doubt, the flavour of your days has been affected. Please “take courage” that as time marches on, you will experience the reality of this verse in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
