Sunset:
so common,
so quick,
a day’s end,
a night begins.
This time it was flaming orange and red but sometimes its fading light is under a host of clouds. Sometimes we notice the change, but often it does not even register. Even on a beautiful and colorful sunset like this one, the colors only last a few minutes. I timed this one. In 3 minutes the colors were gone.
Sunrise:
a day’s start,
a dawning light,
a beginning of good,
or the start of evil?
Less than 12 hours after I witnessed the sunset, the sunrise has its own beauty. On the opposite side of the dome and looking East instead of West, I watched the colors change. I timed this event also. It lasted about 5 minutes before the blues and whites took over. Sunrises are watched a little less commonly, because people are busy headed for work or school. The mission-minded are running to their first engagement. And each day begins a person’s trek to leave a path of some sort. Some leave good in their wake; some leave evil; some leave nothing.
The issue of Psalm 90 is that the day only exists because God created the earth, the solar system, the people, and their surroundings. In their hearts–like our hearts–He created an ability to deny any thought of Him, or to consider Him. In any case, He makes a day’s events–like a sunset and sunrise–to mark time. It is an undeniable reminder that time has passed that cannot be repeated. In this view, the Psalmist presents a request in verse 12: “teach us to number our days.” Why? Because without His help and direction, we waste them on our own wisdom rather than consider His. Lives marked by His wisdom have a different flavor, a different aroma, a different concept of time. Time in the hands of man or woman who considers the God, who gives them breath, will be marked by something different.
Whether a person considers or does not consider God does not matter in one respect: a final reckoning will confront each one. There is a day, a time, an appointment that is coming. Each one has it scheduled, and the Scheduler does not tell us when it will be. He does indicate in parable after parable that a division takes place between those who had lives ready and those who did not, between those who are sheep and those who are goats. So He makes it clear that He keeps track of passage of time, whether we do or do not.
If you have not considered such things, I recommend some time with God. Jesus Christ cries out for those with burdens to come to Him. He can introduce a walk with God that enables us to make note of the passage of time in view of His mercy and love. It makes every sunset and sunrise a little different, a little more meaningful, and much more a quick beacon that says eternity lies ahead for those who love Him.
