James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Genesis 47:8-9 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
Genesis 47:28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.
Genesis 49:33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
147 years old and his testimony was "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been". It is hard for us to relate to this lifespan. We think "man if we could look forward to 147 years with relatively good health we would be sitting on top of the world". Well, really we ought to just think for a moment. I am approaching my 61st birthday in a few months. My earliest recollection is of an incident when, according to my mother, I would have been 3 yrs. old. You know that seems as only yesterday. The days between then and now have vanished as the vapour of steam rising in the air. It is there for a moment and then it fades from view.
Every once in a while I go back to Genesis Chapter 5 and read the "obituaries"" listed there just to keep things in perspective.
Gen. 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
Etc. Etc. Etc. On down through the list and you will see people living the greater part of 1,000 years. But each ends with the phrase "and he died".
It didn't matter how long they lived when they neared the time of death their life seemed but a moment. "Where have all the years gone?" I wouldn't doubt for a minute that each one in Chapter 5 said that at one time or another.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Oh friends, we do not know what tomorrow holds. We can't know the time of our appointed departure from this life. Psalm 90:10 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. My "threescore and ten" is less than 10 years away but I may be cut off and fly away tonight. Then I have an appointment with my creator.
I thank God that I have made preparation to meet Him. I can stand before Him in confidence because of the Blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25, 5:9, Ephesians 1:7, 2:13, Colossians 1:14, 1:20, Revelation 1:5) that I have accepted for atonement for my sins. Jacob at 130 yrs. had to say "few and evil" had been the days of his life. I can say with him far fewer and probably more evil have been the days of my life.
When I enter eternity I won't be depending on my works to gain favor with God. I won't be claiming how faithful I was in attending Church or in giving a tithe. I won't claim hours spent teaching and preparing lessons. No all I will do is claim the precious blood of my Saviour. On the merits of His glorious finished work I will spend endless ages praising Him; For He is worthy!
When we've been there 10,000 years,
bright, shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun!
Life will then no longer be a vapor. It will never, never, never vanish away.
May God be Praised for His wonderful marvelous salvation.
Hillbilly
Poetry Corner
Man of Sorrows: Hosanna!
Man of sorrows, Son of God,
what road of suffering You have trod.
For my own sin, that path You took.
By Your own Father, You were forsook.
God turned His back. He could not look.
God saw my sin upon His Son,
My sins, and those of everyone.
Upon the cross He bore the shame.
For all mankind, He took the blame.
Because of that, let's praise His name.
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"What shall I do with Jesus?"
The question still remains.
Shall I have Him for my Savior?
Or crucify Him again?
Don't point your finger at others.
Don't lay on them the guilt.
If we too reject our Savior,
It's as if we had Him killed.
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Oh Jesus, I was with You, with You on that day.
I was among the women who walked along the way.
I winced at seeing soldiers poking You with spears.
My heart was filled with sorrow; my eyes were filled with tears.
I gasped that time You stumbled. I saw Your weary face.
The memories of that cruelty, I just cannot erase.
The sun was rising higher, higher in the sky.
I saw the women weeping. I heard their desperate cry.
And then I saw You turning, turning toward the crowd.
Your eyes searched for the women who are calling out to God.
I heard You tell them gently, “Oh, do not weep for Me.
Weep only for your children, that they will be set free.”
.....................................
And then the vision vanished. I was no longer there,
Walking with the women, sharing their despair.
However, I am praying that the scene will stay with me,
Of being with the women on the walk to Calvary.
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Hosanna in the Highest,
I cast my garments down.
I humbly bow before Thee.
On Thee I place a crown.
You are my Lord and Savior.
You gave your life for me.
I wave my palms before You.
From sin You've set me free.
Hosanna in the Highest!
My praise I give to Thee.
Exalted now in Heaven,
You'll soon come back for me.
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Loving Savior, make me true.
Keep me from denying You.
May I never fail You, Lord:
Not by silence, not by word.
You who suffered agony
For my sins, to set me free,
Fill my heart with love for Thee,
So that those around may see,
That I am Your disciple true,
Living only, Lord, for You.
Amen!
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© Helen Dowd
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