KJV  “Remember how short my time is: ...”
    ASV  “Oh, remember how short my time is:”
    RSV  “Remember, O Lord, what the measure of life is, ...”
    NASV  “Remember what my span of life is; ...”
         (alt)  “Remember of what duration I am; ...”
    NAB  “Remember how brief is my life, ...”
    NIV  “Remember how fleeting is my life.”
    NKJV  “Remember how short my time is; ...”

I. Exhortation to the Young
     A. Understand that one day you WILL die
          1. Psalm 89:47-48  Ethan the Ezrahite understood that physical death is inevitable
          2. Psalm 39:4-6  David understood …
               … that our lifespans are nothing compared to God
               … that confronting death reminds us of our frailty
          3. Psalm 90:10-12  Moses understood that learning to “number our days” can give us a “heart of wisdom”
     B. Understand that God is to be both feared and revered (respected)
          1. Job 9:32-33; Psalm 50:21-23  God is not a man as we are; there is no one above God
          2. Psalm 89:7  God is to be feared & revered during the worship of the saints (holy ones)
          3. Malachi 1:6-8  See if the governor (or king or president) would tolerate the same respect you show God
          4. Nahum 1:2-3  God avenges Himself
               Examples: Daniel 4 (Nebuchadnezzar), Daniel 5 (Belshazzar), Acts 12:20-23 (Herod)
          2 Thessalonians 1:3-11  God will avenge Himself and His people
     C. Understand that TODAY is the time to begin following God ...
          1. Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 ... before your physical abilities eventually fade away
          2. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 ... before your death makes it too late to serve him
          3. Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 ... while you still have the advantage of time and learning habits of youth
               … because there is much to learn of God through His written word
          4. Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 ... while you still have the advantage of strength and flexibility of youth
               … because intense learning of God can be mentally and physically tiring
     D. Understand what the big picture is
          1. Ecclesiastes 12:13 your reason for being (“Why am I here?”)
          2. Ecclesiastes 12:14 plan for your final appointment

II. Exhortation to the Middle-Aged
     A. Understand that life with God is good
          1. Genesis 1:27-31;2:7-9  God calls it good
          2. Genesis 2:16-19  sin lowers the goodness of life
          3. Hosea 10:12  seek God and He will restore the goodness of life
     B. Understand that you will make mistakes in serving God and that God will correct you
          1. Habakkuk 2:1  watch for God's instruction and for what you will answer Him
          2. Micah 7:18-20  God pardons those who fear Him and humble themselves before Him
     C. Understand what the big picture is
          1. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16  God has given you a job to do
          2. John 17:14-26; Rom. 12:18; 1 Cor. 12:14-27; 2 Cor. 6:1  God expects you to work together
          3. 1 Peter 1:3-11  you must continue growing if you want to remain useful to God
          4. Hebrews 9:27-28  you still have that final appointment to look forward to keeping

III. Exhortation to the Old
     A. Understand that you MUST live until you die ...
          1. 2 Corinthians 1:1-14 ... to show us how to live with comfort and suffering
          2. 2 Corinthians 2:4 ... to show your love for the brethren
          3. Philippians 4:4-8 ... because you appreciate the goodness of life
          4. Genesis 27:1-4 ... because you remember Isaac
               (Isaac thought, or hoped, he was close to dying at this point, but he lived another forty years until Gen. 35:29.)
     B. Understand that you MUST serve God until you die ...
          1. Revelation 2:10 ... because Jesus puts this condition upon your receiving the crown of life
     C. Understand that you MUST sound the Lord's battle cry until you die ...
          1. Colossians 3:1-10 ... by showing us what it means to be a new person raised in Christ
          2. 2 Corinthians 2:9 ... to test our obedience
          3. 1 Peter 5:1-9; Ephesians 6:10-18 ... because you have experienced the battle and know what we must do
          4. 2 Peter 2:1,10-15 ... to recognize, exhort, and remind fellow Christians until the very end
     D. Understand what the big picture is
          1. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18; 5:1-21  you still have a job to do
          2. Matthew 28:18-20  you must prepare others to do the job you will leave behind when you die
          3. Luke 12:35-40; 16:22  death is just a door to a happier place, but only if you are prepared for that final appointment