Uplook - October 24, 2026
Happy Saturday,
My apologies for not writing last week but as you might imagine with the time difference in Asia and our schedule it just didn't happen.
I've been thinking while traveling and since our return about time. Don't worry, I'm not going to wax eloquent about kairos and chronos again. But with the recent passing and funeral service for our beloved Bro. Albert "Sonny" Jackson at nearly 100 years old, I've been thinking a bit about time.
It seems that when Adam/Eve were created that they were created to live forever bodily in fellowship with God the creator. Sin destroyed that option, bringing death (spiritual and physical) into the picture. But in the aftermath of that it seems that human lifespans were actually still quite long into the hundreds of years. We know the Bible describes Methuselah the grandfather of Noah with a lifespan of 969 years with others such as Enoch (365 years) and Noah (950 years). It seems that after the flood lifespans began to shorten ...perhaps because of the new climate or perhaps the effects of sin which continued to plague humanity. By the time of the Exodus, we find that Moses lived 120 years before God buried him. Joshua was 110 years old when he died and it seems that Caleb was in excess of 85 years near that time and still agile enough to enter battle. The Psalmist declares that generally lifespans are between 70 and 80 years.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:10–12
What is sure for everyone, no matter how long we live, is that life as we know it will end. Both Job 7:1 and Hebrews 9:27 speak clearly that we all have an appointment with death. This is why the Psalmist encourages us to "number our days" and "apply our hearts unto wisdom". In chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, we are encouraged to remember our Creator while we are young. The balance of the chapter describes some of the challenges of aging and ends with the "bottom line" or conclusion of the matter is that we need to "Fear God and keep his commandments". That is our duty and created purpose and that thing for which we will be held accountable. May we all wisely choose to follow the Lord with all our hearts.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
My apologies for not writing last week but as you might imagine with the time difference in Asia and our schedule it just didn't happen.
I've been thinking while traveling and since our return about time. Don't worry, I'm not going to wax eloquent about kairos and chronos again. But with the recent passing and funeral service for our beloved Bro. Albert "Sonny" Jackson at nearly 100 years old, I've been thinking a bit about time.
It seems that when Adam/Eve were created that they were created to live forever bodily in fellowship with God the creator. Sin destroyed that option, bringing death (spiritual and physical) into the picture. But in the aftermath of that it seems that human lifespans were actually still quite long into the hundreds of years. We know the Bible describes Methuselah the grandfather of Noah with a lifespan of 969 years with others such as Enoch (365 years) and Noah (950 years). It seems that after the flood lifespans began to shorten ...perhaps because of the new climate or perhaps the effects of sin which continued to plague humanity. By the time of the Exodus, we find that Moses lived 120 years before God buried him. Joshua was 110 years old when he died and it seems that Caleb was in excess of 85 years near that time and still agile enough to enter battle. The Psalmist declares that generally lifespans are between 70 and 80 years.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:10–12
What is sure for everyone, no matter how long we live, is that life as we know it will end. Both Job 7:1 and Hebrews 9:27 speak clearly that we all have an appointment with death. This is why the Psalmist encourages us to "number our days" and "apply our hearts unto wisdom". In chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, we are encouraged to remember our Creator while we are young. The balance of the chapter describes some of the challenges of aging and ends with the "bottom line" or conclusion of the matter is that we need to "Fear God and keep his commandments". That is our duty and created purpose and that thing for which we will be held accountable. May we all wisely choose to follow the Lord with all our hearts.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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