October 30, 2022

This morning I was reading Psalm 90 and spent time meditating on its instruction. I also read Calvin's commentary on this Psalm 90. His insights are profound. I as a human being have been guilty of exactly what Calvin writes. And I am convinced that this is one of the great issues of our day - a lack of awareness of our mortality vis a vis our return to God. This is the true CIRCLE of LIFE. I encourage each of you to reflect on the scripture above and on Calvin's comments below.

"Although we are convinced from experience that humans, when they have completed their circle are forthwith taken out of the world, yet the knowledge of this frailty fails in making a deep impression upon our hearts, because we do not lift our eyes above the world. Whence proceeds the great stupidity of humans, who, bound fast to the present state of existence, proceed in the affairs of life as if they were to live two thousand years, but because they do not elevate their conceptions above visible objects, human, when they compare themselves with others, flatter themselves that they will live to a great age. In short, humans are so dull as to think that thirty years, or even a smaller number, are, as it were, an eternity; nor are they impressed with the brevity of their life so long as this world keeps possession of their thoughts. This is the reason why Moses in Psalm 90 awakens us by elevating our minds to the eternity of God, without the consideration of which we perceive not how speedily our life vanishes away. The imagination that we shall have a long life, resembles a profound sleep in which we are all benumbed, until meditation upon the heavenly life swallow up this foolish fancy respecting the length of our continuance upon earth. As men are thus blinded, Moses sets before their view God as their judge. O Lord! as if he had said, if humans would duly reflect upon that eternity from which thou beholdest these inconstant circlings of the world, they would not make so great account of the present life. But as, instead of seriously considering what is true duration, they rather wilfully turn away their eyes from heaven, this explains why they are so stupid, and look upon one day as if it were a hundred years."

This causes the Apostle Paul, in his Second Letter, to reference Psalm 90 and instruct his readers in the following way:

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

SOLI DEO GLORIA