SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1133

“My Days Are Past”

My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart. – Job 17:11

These words of Job struck a chord with me and gave me pause for reflection. Job is clearly in despair and there are times in our lives that I believe we can clearly relate with what Job is expressing and feeling.

My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; …- Job 9:25

As youth we live life as if our days are without limit. With age comes wisdom and we realize that we are fast approaching our River Jordan, where we will cross from this life into the next.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! – Psalm 90:12; Psalm 39:4

When The Lord led Joshua and the nation of Israel to the River Jordan with the Promised Land on the other side, the river was at its flood stage and impossible to cross.

But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” – Luke 18:27

A raging Jordan River symbolizes the barrier between us and the promise of eternal life with our Father in heaven. Notice that the Ark went into the Jordan first to make a way for them to cross.

And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” – Joshua 3:13

Note also that the people had to consecrate (purify, make holy) themselves before they could cross the Jordan.

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” – Joshua 3:5

Jesus is our Ark of the new covenant. By His death on the cross for our sins and resurrection He crossed the Jordan ahead of us, making it possible for us to also cross through faith in Him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

We also must consecrate ourselves through repentance of our sins and accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Like Job we need to realize that our days are past and we are fast approaching our Jordan River. Will we go through by the power of Jesus, consecrated and clothed in His righteousness or will we be swept away by the raging torrent to eternal destruction and separation from God?

…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:9-10