Bible in a Year: Day 295: Job 14:1-12

Did you know that if you were to live to the age of 75 years old, it calculates that you only have 27,375 days on this earth?  Believe me!  I did the math twice because it just doesn’t seem like much time to be here!  And, of course that is only if we are lucky enough to live to the age 75.  However, there will be those who will have the opportunity to live longer than 75 years.  In any case, when there is a number of days versus a number of years, it becomes a reality that indeed, our days are numbered!

Job, in the Old Testament, was a righteous man and always did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  The devil is after him and God is very aware of what is going on.  Job’s health, family, livestock, and livelihood have all been taken away from him.  The devil’s goal is to get Job to submit to him and turn away from God.  While Job never does submit to the devil, he is now having a pity party.  I really can’t say that I blame him!  I most likely would also! 

Job talks about how a tree, even though may be dying, but gets water, it stands a chance of surviving and coming back to life.  However, Job then states how that is not so with humans.  He states, “So mortals lie down and do not rise again” (v.12).  What Job doesn’t know is how Jesus Christ came and changed all of that!  That through the waters of our baptism, we have life!  We don’t just lie down and it’s over!  We have a new life with our Lord and Savior – not just when our days are out-numbered here, but also, once and for all in our eternal life! 

Job never turns away from God.  In fact, at every turn, Job finds a way to glorify God.  Can you imagine how Job would have proclaimed Christ, if he had just known?!  And so, for me, I am at the age of 58.  If I am lucky enough to live to the age of 75, I only have 6,205 days left to do the work of the Lord.  Anything over that, I will consider gravy and a blessing.  However, let’s be real here – none of us what tomorrow holds.  Therefore, there is no time to throw a pity party!  Every second counts!

Let us pray…Gracious God, our days are numbered, and You are the only one that knows the beginning and the end that we have to live on this earth.  We know with you that our lives do not ever end, but the time we have to tell others about you is numbered.  Help us and guide us to do your will, to be a good neighbor, and to open our hearts to your word.  We love you so much.  Amen.