People who are taught about God at a young age are to be admired: first, because they have parents who love them into eternity; second, because at every wrong turn in life they have a loving, guiding hand; and third, they are instilled with God’s plan for living, rather than accepting the world’s philosophy for life.
You may have had a great upbringing.Your mom and dad may have truly cared for and loved you, wanting what was best as you grew. They may have even believed they were using Godly principles to raise you, but the point between life and Godliness was blurred.
For example, “God helps those who help themselves,” and “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Sound familiar? Where are those sayings in your Bible? Many think they are there, but you won’t be able to find them.
Abraham Lincoln once said: “It is not the day of one’s birth, nor the day of one’s death that matters; the dash between them is most significant.”
In Psalm 71, a man was looking back on his upbringing and ahead to his own death. He even looked beyond his own final days: “Oh, God, You have taught me from my youth; and I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, oh God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come...Oh God, who is like Thee? You, who has shown me many troubles and distresses, will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth” (vs. 17-21).
The Psalmist goes through his life from beginning to end. When in his youth, God taught him about living right. It has helped him through many troubles and distresses. Your life won’t be trouble-free, but God will revive you after the pain. We all have it!
Because our lives are temporal, and we begin the process of dying when we are born, our lives will never be free from heartache, illness, injuries, and, eventually, death.
He asks God to be with him into his “old and gray” years, and also asks for God’s continued presence, giving him words of strength for living throughout his life, then passing His words to others, to the younger generation. Decide today to fill the rest of your life -- your dash -- with Godly living, and pass that on to your children and their children.