Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. (Psalm 39:4)

We Are But Frail Creatures

Young men think they will live forever, and old men understand how frail life is. The spirit of youth clouds the vision of knowing the reality of life, that little time is given for a man to walk upon this earth. From a young age, life seems like an endless adventure filled with expectations and accomplishments. The energy of a youthful eye cannot see what is beyond the horizon because everything is about the here and now. Life is measured by the vitality of an endless day that stretches over time without end. There is no knowledge of the trials of life, heartaches, disappointments, and realities of growing old. Far removed is the eye of wisdom that knows how short life is measured and that death has always been near; but a whisper away.

The old must die, the young can die. When an old man dies, he has lived a full life. A young man dies, and tears of grief question how he could be cut down at the prime of life. The reality is, there is no difference between the old and the young. Life is not justified by age. Babies die in childbirth. Old men die after many years lived. The grave is an impartial judge. It is difficult for a young man to have the life experience that comes with age. With age comes wisdom, but not for all. An old man can refuse to accept his time on earth and seek for youth in his later years, but he fights a losing battle. God has ordained death for all men, and for most, it is accomplished through the aging process. An old man who seeks to relive his youth is a fool. Young men are young, and old men are old. Life is measured in this form by the hand of God.

Wisdom comes from understanding how frail life is. The psalmist David examined life and found that youthfulness serves a purpose, but it is fleeting. True knowledge comes from looking at life from the viewpoint of the Creator. To truly understand the nature of life, God must be acknowledged. Every man comes into the world by the hand of God, and everyone leaves this world by the decree of God. God gives life to the eternal spirit dwelling in a mortal body. Because of sin, God has limited the days of man. Death is certain, and nothing man can do will stop that. David understood the complexity of life, which must be measured to know its length. After seeing how short life is, the psalmist concludes what God wants man to know: life is a vapor that appears for a moment and then it is gone. That is how frail life is.

When a man looks at life as God gives life, he can understand how valuable each moment is. The frailty of life is heard when parents see their children grown and remark, “Where did childhood go?” Measuring life shows how quickly the world turns when milestones are reached in life. Graduation from school, marriage, children, grandchildren, retirement, and old age. It seems but for a moment. How frail life is. The frailty of life is highlighted when death invades the heart, with so many dying at a young age and at an old age. Time marches slowly as the expectation of many more years is now few. Frailty of body and mind creeps in. Challenges increase. The darkness of old age overshadows the heart.

David knew how to live each day for the God he served. The Holy Spirit said David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Death is called a sleep – a rest, because life is fragile. When a man dies, he goes to his long home, an everlasting home, the eternal home. The contrast is stark. Life is but a vapor. Eternal life is forever. What once was measured and frail is now unmeasured and secure. Count your days. They are fleeting. Life is a brief moment and then eternity. Only God can help you measure your days to find salvation in eternal life.