“10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. 11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil” (1Peter 3:10-12 NET).
Was that the Apostle Peter, who wrote those words towards the end of his life? Wasn’t he the one, whom Jesus prophesied would die a martyr’s death (John 21:18)? Still, Peter loved life and saw good days, completing his life about age 68. Doesn’t the LORD expect the same of us? The Psalm of Moses reminded us, “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations” (Psalm 90:1 KJV). We are to rest in the eternity of His strength, though as a “tale that is told” (90:9) our fleeting existence is but “threescore years and ten [70]; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore [80] years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (90:10). And, like the super centenarian Moses [120 years], “O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (90:14). It is the quality of our life, not its length.
What advice does Scripture give us to see good days?
First, teach us to consider our mortality as we wisely live our lives. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Second, love life because it is a gift from God and approach life as working out for your good (Romans 8:28). “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [Greek dolos, deceit]” (1Peter 3:10).
Third, live in righteousness or do that which is right because God’s Spirit “worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13) giving us the satisfaction of the LORD. “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31).
Fourth, do not allow evil and deceit (1Peter 3:10) to come out of your mouth, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).
Fifth, actively “turn away from evil and do good” (1Peter 3:11), since it is impossible to be both sinful and holy simultaneously (James 3:11), and seeking “peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:10) will be the only way of catching a peaceful life.
Sixth, be more concerned about producing spiritual fruit than dying with the most toys (Luke 16:23) or the most admired body (Proverbs 20:29). “13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Psalms 92:13-14).
Seventh, focusing our sight on the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22) is our attempt to imitate the highest model of longevity, “for in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
Father, teach us to number our days as those who have not a worry about the fleetingness of our existence yet make the fullest count for Your eternal purpose. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
We Need A Miracle 