We look back with thanksgiving that God has been our help in the past, and He is our help in the present. This gives us the confidence that He will be our help in the future too.

Psalm 90:4-6: “ For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.”

Time is truly not on our side. We often wish we have 48 hours a day. We have so much work, yet so little time. But what is time to God? Time does not control Him, nor limit Him at all. Instead He controls time. That is why we must trust Him to help us. Indeed He has been our Helper in the past, and we have experienced His goodness and faithfulness. We have the assurance that He continues to be our Help not only in the present but also in the future. This is our confidence in Him. We need not worry what tomorrow may bring. We often worry for ourselves, families, and children. Will I pass my exams? Will I have a job? Will I get married and have children? Will my children succeed in life? We have so many worries. It is so important for us to remember how God has been our help in the past so that we will learn to trust in Him today and tomorrow.

Because God is good, we know we are in His good hands. When we choose to leave Him and go our own way, and prefer to trust in our own ability to solve our problems, it is our loss. God is doing a great work for us, through us, and in us, despite our failure to trust Him at times. When we help ourselves by turning to His help, we can be fully assured that He will carry us through to the end. He may not remove our struggles and difficulties. What He did promise us is that His grace is sufficient for us. We will surely be able to overcome all difficulties. As such, there is joy in living. Joy that is not based on our circumstances of life. Joy that is in our Lord, our Helper. Even when we have to suffer, are under persecution, or if men fail us, our loved ones disappoint us, our joy continues to be in the Lord. It is our choice whether to trust in God as our helper or not. God will not force us. But let us realize that our time is limited.

Psalm 90:7-13, “For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.”

We have only one life to live. And it is a short one. Why should we let this short life be lived outside of God? How can we live as if God does not exist? For us to live outside of God is to invite His wrath to burn against us. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. If only we have the fear of God, we will keep ourselves near to Him, and keep sin away. We will avoid places of sin and temptation. We will delight in the fellowship of God’s people. We will bear a good testimony for Christ by our forbearance and patience with one another. There is much to do. How long more can you do what you are called to do? 50 years, 80 years? Only God knows. A walk among the graves in the cemetery will remind us that God can call us home anytime. We may not live for another year, 10 years or 50 years. For all we know, we may be gone tomorrow. Let us live our life to the fullest each day. Do not let the world decide for you how you should live your life on earth. Do not be controlled by the world to find satisfaction in what the world is doing. Turn to God by drawing close to Him through His Word. Knowing God who is our Helper in the past, present and future helps us to turn to Him and to seek to glorify Him while life lasts. We will have a longing for God to bring us to His blessed home where there will be no more struggles. This longing will be a strong one, and that is the reason why Moses cried in Psalm 90: 13, “Return, O LORD, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants.” How we wish we can fast forward ourselves to heaven, so that our suffering will be shortened in this weak and dying body. But we know we cannot. We have no power over our spirit. That power belongs to God. And since we cannot change that, is it not better for us to direct our focus and attention to live unto God meaningfully and to the fullest according to what He desires of us according to His precious Word? May God help us. Amen.