So teach us to number our days,

....    That we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). The context of this verse (verse 11) talks about the fear of the Lord, and asks “Who knows the power of Your anger?” We read in Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” There is no contradiction in having both a healthy fear of the Lord,  as well as a childlike trust in the One who loved us and gave His life for us (Ephesians 5:2). For the one who walks in the light as He is in the light, His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 1:7; 4:18). If, on the other hand,  we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left (Hebrews 10:26).

We are meant to feel secure in our salvation.  John wrote  “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Note the tenses here we have eternal life, is it a present possession and a gift (Ephesians 2:8). However, the Hebrews reference warns against presumption “I can do whatever I want, God will forgive me!” Assurance and presumption do not go hand in hand. The Hebrews reference continues after  “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” with “but (there remains) only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (verse 27).

There's much debate about whether or not you can loose your salvation. I'm not talking about that issue this morning. My point is about assurance, about knowing and feeling secure. We can fool ourselves of course, but true assurance knows nothing of saying a quick prayer,  and then living life as if nothing has changed. We are to be being transformed from glory to glory by the renewing of our minds  (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).  What I am saying, is that  true assurance, the assurance that avoids presumption and experiences the love that casts out all fear, this assurance comes as we learn to “number our days.” Numbering our days is about living life in the light of eternity, knowing that we must give an account even of every idle word (Matthew 12:36).  It is not about being sinless.  The Christian is not sinless, though after conversion we should certainly sin less!  In fact in many things we all fail (James 3:2). But to come back to 1 John 1:7. It says that  if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then the blood of Jesus Christ keeps on cleaning us from all sin. We do need to confess and repent of course (verse 9). We do need to confess and repent of course (verse 9). But the point I want to make, is that if walking in the light meant that we were perfect,  there would be no need for the ongoing cleansing!


Father, please help us to number our days,  to make each one count. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Lord, and the safest place is close to the flame,  looking unto Jesus and living lives in the light of eternity. We need Your help Lord,  and we're asking for it again this morning in Jesus Name Amen