HF124 - Our Allotted Space of Time

To:  Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From:  "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Mon, June 21, 2004 
Subject:  Bible Study HF124 - Our Allotted Space of Time

Hebraics,

In a recent session of our Shepherd's Heart class, I made mention that each believer has been given a space of time to live their life, and that what we do with our 'space' is the only thing that counts in eternity. A student later told me how much that idea struck her. What makes this more interesting is that when I made the statement, I knew instantly that the Holy Spirit had put it in my mouth to speak.

After reflecting on this a bit I thought it would be good to offer a Bible study on the issue of our having been given a space of time from the Lord. Are you ready for this? Good.

This is Bible Study HF124 - Our Allotted Space of Time.

Moses looked upon the tribal people, and said, "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." (Psalm 90:1)

Moses must have had a deep longing in his heart for the things of eternity. Psalm 90 is a most precious Psalms. Since Moses was a prophet he was able to see into the far distant future. In fact the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 30 is one of the most prophetic songs to be found in the Scriptures. No wonder it is spoken of in Revelation as the 'Song of Moses the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.' (Rev15:3)

Psalm 90 is similar to the Song of Moses in that it touches on eternal issues while reaching into the deep of our soul. Thus we hear Moses say, "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (v14)

But there is something else that Moses says that each believer should take to heart. The man of God says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." (v12) It is this last statement that gives us pause for reflection. How is it that learning to number our days will cause us to have a heart of wisdom? It all comes back to our allotted space of time.

Moses knew that his time-space was only a brief moment in comparison to eternity. He also knew that God's people needed to keep this truth ever before them. It is as the apostle said that our life is like a vapor that appears but for a moment. Moses' entire life was wrapped up in doing God's will in whatever space of time had been given to him. How about you? Do you feel the same about your space of time?

In Psalm 90 Moses also marked out the general life span given to humanity. He said, "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years..." (v10) Certainly some folk live beyond the eighty years. Some live much less. Our allotted space of time is not for us to know. But it is a truth none the less. We have so much time to live. No more. No less.

David also drew attention to our allotted days. Being a prophet himself, David wrote, "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." (Psalm 139:16)

But David also gave us a glimpse into wisdom. He ended Psalm 139 in saying, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." (vv23,24)

David knew that he was not free from sinful attitudes and thoughts. This remains true today. Even the most godly of believers still have to bring their thought life into check. But like all true believers, David did not want anything in his life that would be offensive to a walk of holiness. (Nor should we.)

Then where David says, "Lead me in the everlasting way," he was speaking of the 'way of the Lord,' that is, he wanted to keep his focus clear on God's path of redemption.

Perhaps we should point out here that David's Lord is the very same Lord that new covenant believers love and serve. Sometimes it is hard for us to grasp this. But when David wrote, "The Lord says to MY Lord: 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet,'" he was calling attention to the One who would be incarnate as Jesus Christ. Jesus carefully brought attention to this. So, David's Lord was Jesus Christ, though he did not know Him by that name at the time.

Keep in mind that the term 'the everlasting way' always has a view to God's redemption story. David had much more to say about this Jesus Christ whom both he and we love. In fact all the prophets wrote about Jesus. Abraham saw Him. This is why the writing prophets described future redemptive and historical events with such clearness that it is astonishing. But they wrote in what is called 'prophetic perfects." This means that when they wrote, it was as though they were actually present at the time of the event. They recorded what was being revealed to them in the Spirit. This is the primary reason the apostle said that we should never exceed the writings of the 'prophets.'

So, as a prophet, David spoke and wrote in prophetic perfects. This is why he could describe the events of the cross with such vividness. David literally recorded the words and even the thoughts of Jesus as He hung on the cross. Notice how Psalm 22 begins; "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?"

And so concerning the everlasting way, David further writes, "Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth [this is Jesus], and righteousness looks down from heaven [this is the Father]." Then he writes, "Righteousness will go before Him AND WILL MAKE HIS FOOTSTEPS INTO A WAY." (Psalm 85:10-13. Caps for emphasis only.)

What did David mean about God making the footsteps of Jesus into a way? He wasn't speaking of 'a' way as though there were other ways. David is speaking towards the finished work of the cross. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

Jesus is the Way of God. Jesus is the Truth of God. Jesus is the Life of God. It was His footsteps in the earth that opened the portals of heaven for the saving of all who would believe in Him. Jesus walked out of heaven, into our earth. He walked our planet, loving, healing, preaching, teaching, and presenting Himself as the Messiah and Savior of mankind. He was placed on a cross. He walked out of the tomb. He ascended into heaven. And His footsteps became our salvation.

Jesus said to Peter, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." (John 13:36) Jesus had to first enter into heaven on our behalf, bringing His own blood for the atonement sacrifice. When the sacrifice was accepted, that opened the door for all who believe to follow in His footsteps. In fact His life has become our life.

But back to our allotted space of time --- I will soon be 64 years old. The Lord called me into the ministry when I was 24. For these forty years it has been my portion to preach the gospel. What have I learned in all this? I've learned a great many things. I've learned that I am a sinner saved by grace; that my salvation is fully completed and satisfied through the finished work of the cross; that no one can add to that, or take away from that. But I've also become more aware of how quickly each passing day slips into eternity. Time marches on. It waits for no man.

And so the older I get the more I appreciate the Lord's adage for completing my course of life. It is so simple and yet so profound. Jesus said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matt6:33) Such a simple statement. Notice that Jesus didn't tell us to seek a certain religion, or to seek to be right about everything, or to seek to make a name for ourselves, or to seek to be a corrector of everyone else.

What then does it mean to seek the kingdom? This is a Hebraism. It means to seek the direct rule of God in our hearts and lives. We are to do this day by day by day. And this is true wisdom. Peter understood this as well as anyone. In alluding to the Psalm of Moses, Peter writes, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures for ever." Thus life as we know it now is like a fading flower.

So, thank you brother Moses. I'm on the same page as you. I agree fully with how you concluded your wonderful Psalm, when you said, "Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:16,17)

This does require sober thinking. Nor does it take away from the joy of our walk with Jesus. It simply puts things into a better perspective. Are there any adjustments you need to make? Think about it. God has allotted you a space of time. What will you do with it?

The study is open. Feel free to make contributions or ask questions.

The Lord bless you,

Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host 
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org

Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/

"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)

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