Text: Job 9:25-26.
Aim:
To teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to the wisdom of soul winning, to teaching others God’s word, and living like Christ.
Introduction:
The Bible compares our life to many things.
Why?
So that we may realize how short our life is, and how important it is for us to number our days (ie: to plan our life) so that we have the maximum impact on the world for Christ.
In order to show us how short our life is, God compares our life to several things:
1. A Vapour.
See James 4:14
All our plans depend on our life continuing.
But what a frail and uncertain thing our life is.
Who can build any solid plans on the permanence of a vapour or a mist?
A vapour is a mist that is dissipated by the rising sun.
“O remember that my life is wind….As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so is he that goeth down to the grave.” Job 7:7,9.
“For he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”Ps.78:39
Notice that:
1) A vapour or wind passes away quickly, so does the life of man.
2) As we cannot stop a cloud or wind, so we cannot hinder the speedy motion of our days.
3) As a cloud comes to its height and then vanishes, so does our life and our full strength.
2. A Flower.
See Job 14:1-2
See 1 Peter 1:24-25
Man’s life is compared to a fading flower.
Many things describe a flower such as having sweet smell, beauty, variety of colour, and softness to touch.
Job discusses none of these, but only of its cutting down.
Note the following truths about it’s cutting down:
a)A flower is often cut down or cropped in it’s budding.
Many people are cut off in the flower of life by i) Natural death by sickness, or ii) Accidental death by violence, murder, road accidents etc.
b) A flower if not cut off, soon withers away and is gone.
The “Queen of the Night” flower blooms in one night, gives a beautiful fragrance, and is dead and withered by morning.
c) As the owner of flowers knows best when to crop then, so God knows the best time when to crop off or take away by death any of his choice flowers.
3. A Swift Post.
See Job 9:25
a) As a postman rides swiftly, in a hurry, so man’s life passes away swiftly.
b) A postman of years ago would
– ride on the swiftest of horses,
– he would change horses at every stage to keep up the speed,
– he would take a morsel of food at each stop, then speed on,
– he would only go to bed at the end of his journey,
– all people would give way to the post rider.
4. A Swift Ship.
“They are passed away as the swift ships.” Job 9:26.
Watching a ship at sea, we notice how it passes very quickly, reminding us of our lives & opportunities.
5. An Eagle.
“As the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” Job 9:26.
An eagle is a very swiftly flying bird, but when it hastens to catch its prey, it makes the greatest speed.
The life of man is compared to an eagle hurrying to catch her prey when hunger adds swiftness to her wings.
So it is with swiftness that our days pass away.
What have you done for Christ with your life?
6. A Weaver’s Shuttle.
“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” Job 7:6.
a) A weaver’s shuttle is an instrument of very swift motion.
b) When the weaver has finished his web, he cuts off the thread.
So it is that when a man has run the length of his days appointed by God, his life is cut off.
7. A Shadow.
“He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” Job 14:2.
David said: “our days on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding.” I Chronicles 29:15.
Man’s life today is short compared to human lifespan before Noah’s flood.
Man’s life is much shorter compared to God’s eternity.
This is a great motive for us to redeem our time.
Conclusion:
a) Our days on earth are few.
b) Our days on earth are uncertain.
c) The shortness of our life shows the folly of living only for material things.
As did the rich man in Luke 12:16-21 – Read.
The word of God tells us “The fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever…This their way is their folly.” Psalm 49:10,11,13.
d) Our minds must be focused on eternity “knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.” Hebrews 10:34.
e) The shortness of life motivates us to use all our labours
to get people to heaven,
to teach the Bible,
to plant churches,
to train preachers,
be at peace among ourselves,
and live holy lives pleasing to God.
Let us be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16.
Redeem the time” means “to buy it up, rescue it from loss, improve every opportunity.”