Don’t Let What’s Not Precious, Mock You!

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Psalm 39:4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.“

As I write early this morning, I am sitting on the deck of a lodge of an absolutely beautiful northern Minnesota resort – my favorite – Rutgers Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It’s a beautiful morning. I am sipping on a cup of coffee that the waitress brought out to me. I am overlooking a lake while listening to the birds chirp. My Bible is next to me. I just set it down. I was going to sit out here and read it for a while but as I started to read this morning from Psalm 39, I got stuck and could read no farther. God was speaking to me through the verses and I knew I was supposed to park there and meditate on them. I have gotten stuck on similar verses before. Seems like I always do when they speak about the big picture of life and how fast life goes by. As James 4:14 says, “…What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.“

As I was reading thoughts about life from the heart of David this morning, the Lord used them to apprehend my heart and again, have me reflect about what’s really important. It’s one of the reasons I periodically like getting away and coming to a place like this. If offers me quiet in a serene setting that helps me reflect about what is important to God – thus to me, helping me make sure my life is on track. I love moments like this!

In Psalm 39 we read about David who is reflecting on his life while also repenting to God for getting off track. He did in a big way and is suffering from some hurtful consequences and his personal guilt. David had always been one who prided himself in living right before the Lord. Sadly, he found out like we all do, that no one is exempt from the temptations of life and from blowing it by succumbing to some. And so he says and we read in Psalm 39:4-8, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.” We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion, for even fools mock me when I rebel…”

At times like this, if you really are off track and rebelling, I guarantee you that Satan is magnifying your sin and accusing you to increase your guilt and lead you to believe that God has left you and won’t forgive you. It’s not true! He hasn’t. But sin gives the devil that open door to accuse you and make you feel that way. Jesus is reaching out to you to forgive you and get you back on track.

If your life is on track or not far off track with the Lord, then God uses these moments of reflecting how fast life moves, to help you really focus on what is important. He uses them to remind you that the things we often give too much importance too, often mock us later when we discover that they weren’t important and distracted us from the plan of God.

Renee and I are up here for three purposeful days to enjoy each other – to talk, laugh, pray, play, and focus together on what is important and what we want to accomplish together. We will think and talk about how we can more effectively touch other people’s lives with the love of Jesus. And we will strengthen our love for each other and our marriage. We will count our days reflecting on the big picture so that we can do our best to stay in the will of God. We want our life to count for Him. We want to serve Him and His purposes. We want to live without regrets. He fills it with good things in the process – like He has at this very moment. I can hear the loons calling to each other…

In His Love,
Pastor Tim