Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.
(Psalm 39:4-5 ESV)
Last week I wrote of a church that was struggling because the pastor’s son-in-law was convicted on felony charges. I won’t go into all the connected and very messy details, but I will say that this spiritual and emotional nuclear bomb in that church is hurting a lot of people. Because these people are created in the image of God and precious to God, I hurt for the pain that they are experiencing.
Additionally, there are other churches and people that are using this admittedly terrible situation to slam that local church as a whole. I understand wanting to correct false doctrines, or to keep a church’s congregants from spiritual and theological harm. But to kick something when it’s down seems excessively cruel. To want another church to fail is beyond the pale. Yet there are voices doing so.
I wonder: do these people not realize the time is short? God’s Church has only a limited amount of time before Jesus returns. We have a very specific, very important commission: To make DISCIPLES of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). We’re supposed to be operating under the power of the Holy Spirit to take this Good News to our local communities, our greater regions, and to the farthest parts of the earth.
To spend energy and time pointing out the real and terrible problems in this situation may make the accusers feel better about their “righteousness,” but it’s a terrible witness for the Church as a whole. What pre-believer wants to know a God whose children are tearing each other apart? There’s plenty of that in the world – no need to seek Jesus for that kind of life.
In John 17 Jesus prayed intentionally that, just as he and the Father are one, all the disciples would be one. In addition, he prayed that all future believers would be one with each other. Knowing human nature as he did – and we do – it’s no wonder that Jesus prayed for unity in his Church.
I have no illusions that if we just pray for unity all the Catholics and Lutherans and Baptists and Pentecostals and Methodists will suddenly decide that they agree on everything. But, I do think that all these streams of the Church (and all those I didn’t name) should recognize that the time is short. Jesus is returning soon. Soon as to “today” or “next week” or “this century” I don’t know. But I do know he said to be ready.
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44 ESV)
Are the people of this world ready?
I daresay, no.
Is the Church ready?
I definitely say “no.”
God,
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Show us the brevity of life and the urgency of our time on earth. Help us live each day as faithful witnesses for your Kingdom, understanding how short the time truly is.
Guard us from being self-focused. Instead, make us aware of those around us who are in need of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in humility and grace—not quick to criticize fellow believers or other churches, but trusting that You are at work in many different ways and places.
Give us discernment to recognize and stand against false teachings and deception, but let us always speak the truth in love, with compassion and humility.
We lift up this local church that is hurting—asking for your healing, comfort, and peace. And we pray that other churches would respond not with judgment, but with grace and support, reflecting your heart for the broken.
Help us to live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil and short. Pour out your Word and Spirit on every local church, that your Kingdom would come and your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus,
AMEN.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who[j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17 NKJV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 ESV)
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11 ESV)
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV)
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 NKJV)
You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. (James 4:14 GW)
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice… (Philippians 1:18 NIV)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1 NKJV)
Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 AMP)