Teach us to number our days

In 1611, Lutheran pastor and theologian Johann Gerhard wrote "A great part of Christian wisdom consists of the constant contemplation of death. It is appointed for all to die; but to die with piety, to die in Christ, to die happily is not for everyone." Gerhard lived at a time when the imminence of death was more pronounced than in our own time. In fact, while he wrote this devotional book for those near death, his newborn son died. His wife, likewise, died less than a month after it was first published. The contemplation of death is what Moses meant when he wrote those chilling words "Teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom," (Psalm 90:12).

It has been almost a year since I was ordained and installed as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church here in Havre and Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook. Just before I arrived, a dear member, Randy Martin, was diagnosed with cancer. He is a man, no doubt, known among the long-time residents of Havre who shoot rifles or are around trains. After six months as pastor, Randy visited my study to inform me that he had planned his whole funeral.

There were many things he insisted upon that I laughed about. "I don't want any solos sung at my funeral, Pastor." I made him write this request out and sign it so I had proof. He said things that cause pastors to pray in thanksgiving. "At my funeral I want people to understand why the Christian faith is so important." He selected about six more hymns than our funeral service calls for, but I rejoiced because I love to sing. The third stanza of the closing hymn ("Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus") he chose says quite a lot about how he thought of life and death: Let us gladly die with Jesus./Since by death He conquered death,/He will free us from destruction,/Give to us immortal breath./Let us mortify all passion/That would lead us into sin;/And the grave that shuts us in/Shall but prove the gate to heaven./Jesus, here with You I die,/There to live with you on high.

Here was a man who was taught to number his days and it didn't take a cancer diagnosis to begin this work. He had been preparing his funeral service for some time. Many would see morbidity in planning their own funeral. "Life is too short to think about death," some may reason. Medical advancements alone have allowed our sensibilities about death to grow indifferently numb. The latest surgery or most advanced injection will keep us looking young. "Who wants to think about death? That is a foolish thing to do." Moses sees in it a heart of wisdom. Gerhard sees in a great part of Christian wisdom. Randy's pastor sees in it a man who was granted a most profound understanding of what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus in a fallen world.

Moses writes, "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years," (Psalm 90:10). Randy died July 18 at the age of 59 and though the last months of his life were accompanied by much pain and suffering he died with piety, he died in Christ, he died happily. In the language of the ancient prayer known as the Litany, Randy was kept from an evil death in that he was preserved from unbelief; he died in faith, clinging fast to the promised mercy of his Savior. Because he was and is joined to the immortal body of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:15), Randy confidently numbered his days on this side of glory knowing that God has stored up for him numberless days in eternity.

Thus, refusing to learn from God to number your days is the truly foolish thing to do. Dear Christian reader, you can contemplate this inevitability with confidence, for you stand in the light of Christ whose death has destroyed death and whose life earns for you eternity. You, too, can sing with Randy Martin Let us also live with Jesus./He has risen from the dead/That to life we may awaken./Jesus, You are now our head./We are Your own living members;/Where You live, there we shall be/In You presence constantly,/Living there with You forever./Jesus, let me faithful be,/Life eternal grant to me.

--

Pastor Marcus Williams, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre and Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook