The Hour Glass

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to might, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and wickedness; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

Life is short, fragile, and often burdensome. Psalm 90, a prayer by Moses, reveals a sobering truth: even a lengthy life—seventy or eighty years—is filled with labor, suffering, and human frailty. Our strength diminishes, plans are disrupted, and death arrives unexpectedly. John Calvin noted that life’s fleetingness should remind us of our reliance on God and the importance of aligning our days with His will. Similarly, Jonathan Edwards stressed that earthly life is brief, and eternity is what truly counts; all our efforts, joys, and sorrows should be measured against God's eternal glory.

If you've visited my office, you've seen the hourglass on my desk. Think of your life as that hourglass, where each grain of sand signifies a day, a moment, or an opportunity to honor God. Initially, the top appears full, and we often take our time for granted, believing we have endless days ahead. However, each grain slowly slips through the narrow neck, passing beyond our reach. We can't speed up, slow down, or recover a fallen grain. Soon, the top is almost empty, confronting us with the unyielding passage of time. Psalm 90:10 reminds us that life is limited, and every day is precious.

The brevity of life carries a deep call to wisdom. John Calvin noted that recognizing life's shortness should drive us to focus on God’s glory and our salvation. Edwards encouraged believers to look beyond earthly matters and dedicate their brief time to what lasts forever: faithfulness and obedience to God. Every grain of sand used for Him, and every moment spent obeying, adds to His eternal kingdom.

Life’s struggles and hardships are temporary, but God’s mercy and Christ’s salvation last forever. The hourglass, while reminding us of mortality, also directs us toward eternity. As the sands fall, let them serve as a reminder to focus your life on what truly matters—loving God, walking in His truth, and sharing Christ's hope with others. Our days are finite, but God’s faithfulness knows no bounds, and His promises withstand the fleeting sands of time.

· “Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You; surely every man, even standing firm, is altogether vanity. Selah.” (Psalm 39:5)

· “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be like! You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)

· “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalm 144:4)

· “Remember how short my time is!” (Psalm 89:47)

· “For we are sojourners before You, and foreign residents, like all our forefathers; our days on the earth are like a shadow…” (1 Chronicles 29:15)

· “For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a shadow…” (Ecclesiastes 6:12)

· “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

· “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble; he comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.” (Job 14:1–2)

· “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” (Psalm 103:15–16)

· “For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.” (Psalm 102:3)

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark