It was timely to say the least. I had just left Barnes & Noble....and the weather was perfect....probably one of the last 80 degree days of this year....so I put on the headphones and quickly chose a Charles Spurgeon sermon to listen to while walking in the sun around the large shopping area. I had heard this sermon before....and probably recommended it here in these posts....but could not remember the setting for the sermon. It was the Lord's Day....March 30, 1884. Spurgeon was a few weeks shy of 50 years old....and I appreciate his sermons when at the end of his ministry even a little bit more than the fiery early ones....this because of his experience of so many years in his ministry that was not only in London but all around the world.
Prince Leopold....the Duke of Albany....second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert....had died suddenly two days previous at thirty years old. I have no idea if Spurgeon had already prepared his sermon titled....What Is Your Life....well in advance.....or if the death of Queen Victoria's son caused the Prince of Preachers to address the issue of the shortness of the time we have on this earth....but Spurgeon did begin by describing the nation mourning the death of a member of the royal family.
I obviously recommend the sermon to you....for it is indeed a topic that we all should address at one time or another. Fifty-three years ago yesterday I stood with other men at the Federal Building in downtown Pittsburgh and took the oath upon joining the army. I remember so much about that entire day....yet it was fifty-three years ago!
Psalm 90 was written by Moses! The Psalm begins Book Four....(Psalms 90-106)....and it has a lot of emphasis on 'time' in its 17 verses....
"Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" v2b
"For a thousand years in Your sight....are like yesterday when it is past." v4
"The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years." v10
"Do teach us to number our days....that we may gain a heart of wisdom." v12
"Return, O LORD! How long? v13
We thus are told very clearly that life is brief....whether it be 80 years or 30 years....and we should examine how we used the time given to us....for we will stand before the Prince of Peace....the King of Kings.....and account for where our heart and desires were....as we professed faith in what the Lord Jesus Christ had done for us....and thankfulness in that He called us to Him to receive grace upon grace.
