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FACE THE FACTS

By Karl Priest January 11, 2012

There is ONE FACT that every rational person must face—DEATH.

After that, it becomes a matter of FAITH. The most logical faith follows the God of the Bible through Jesus Christ. Face the following facts.

The Bible says that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Again, WE ALL WILL DIE. The Bible tells us our likely life expectancy.

“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.” (Psalms 90:10) That means, on average, humans will live about 70 years (one “score” = 20 years) or, if a healthy individual, a human can live into his eighties. Just think about how few healthy 80 year olds there are.

It makes sense to ask God to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12) Let’s do just that.

A life (human mortality/ life expectancy ) table shows the probability of a member of a particular group (gender and race for example) dying at a particular age. Life insurance companies are very familiar with the reliability of the statistics. You can use http://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html to determine your approximate date of death. Following is the method I used on the date I wrote this article.

My age is 63 (I did not use the exact number which would have been about 63.42.). According to the chart my life expectancy is 18.66 years (I chose not to round that.). I multiplied 18.66 by 365 days per year (I ignored Leap Years.) to figure that I have approximately 6810.9 days left. The amount would be much less if I figured the more likelihood of dying in my seventies. During 2005 the year I retired) I etched the total days onto the surface of a hand held tally counter. I click off a day each morning and it keeps me focused that this life (there will be no reincarnation) will soon be passed.

This is NOT DEPRESSING OR SCARY!

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (I Cor. 15:55)
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” (Phil. 1:23)
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. “(Phil. 1:21)

Those are just a few words of comfort contained in the Bible.

Also, God’s Word has verses with advice. Here are three of many.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31)
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (I Cor. 4:18)

With those things in mind I posted the following motto on a laminated card on my desk: “Just one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Of course, no one knows when the Lord will allow us to leave this life. “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. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:14 )

Those are the facts I fondly face. WILL YOU?

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Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Extra verse:

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

By C. T. Studd

Also see "Counting to the Appointment" and “Wake Up Before the Clock Stops”.

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