Know Your End

In a world that hypes up how strong, fierce and independent people can be, God leads His people to consider their frailty so He might be their strength.  David prayed humbly according to God's will in Psalm 39:4-5, "LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. ⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah"  Slaying the Philistine champion did not bolster David's self-confidence but worked to increase God-reliance when enemies came against him.  Esteeming God above others and himself was key to David's successful rule.

David asked God would impress his own mortality upon him, the realisation his days on earth were relatively short.  It is good we would recognise and acknowledge our weakness so we might seek strength in God; it benefits us to remember our lives on earth will have an end so we will not take moments God has given us for granted.  At our wisest, strongest, wealthiest and influential, we are altogether vanity.  Knowing our frailty and brevity of life compels us not to live our lives in vain, for Jesus Christ our LORD redeems us so our lives can be profitable for the kingdom of God and for eternity.

We cannot know the times and seasons God has in His own power, and we do not know how many hours, days or years we have left on earth.  Yet the LORD has told us in His word the end of all those made righteous by faith in God.  By the prophetic power of the Holy Spirit, David answered his own query in Psalm 37:37:  "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace."  Jesus has been revealed as our peace who imputes righteousness to all who trust in Him, has reconciled Jew and Gentile to Himself and united us in His Body (Ephesians 2:14-17).  By His atoning sacrifice Jesus has come and preached peace to all, and all who have received Him are given the right to become children of God.

The mighty men and women of the earth will be brought to the grave, and not one is able to reverse the consequences of sin that brings death.  The lives of Christians can end in a most violent fashion, yet by the Gospel we know our future is peace and rest in our glorious Saviour who is risen and reigns on high.  Our lives are vapour, yet God has redeemed us from the power of the grave and promised us a home in His glorious kingdom forever.  This is a better end to our life story than we could have ever dreamed made possible by God's grace--a new beginning in heavenly glory for eternity.