How Short Is Too Short?
Much has been said in God’s Word about “length”. The first mention is in regard to the ark God Commanded Noah to build. In Genesis 6:15, God said to Noah: And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. Here, God addressed the length, width, and the height of the vessel in which humanity would be saved from the flood. Any “less” dimensions utilized by Noah would be “too short” in length and height, and “too narrow” to accomplish what God Commanded.
There are a great number of things which could be listed for which we need to be cautioned so they be not “too short”. Garments are one thing. They are designed to “cover”. If too short, they don’t adequately cover. God has addressed this in 1Timothy 2:9 where Christians were told how to “adorn” themselves in “ . . . modest apparel”. In Isaiah 28:20, God also used a “short bed” and a narrow blanket to describe the inadequacy of Israel’s adherence to His Law. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
As we contemplate “short” here, let’s focus on something that applies to all humanity that “draws breath”. That thing is time. Upon being conceived, we begin a journey. That journey is from “life” on this earth to eternity. God has constantly reminded man of this journey, and how it will “end” on the earth. In Psalm 89:47-48, the Holy Spirit had the psalmist pen these Words: Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Can we not see from this single passage that God has granted “time” so that we can “choose” to adhere to His Word and make the changes needed so we can spend eternity with Him? If we can see this, why do we delay to make the needed changes?
Time means nothing to God who is eternal. In 2Peter 3:8-9 we are told this as well as the reason God “created” time for our use. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God has always been, and will forever be. To Him, time means nothing. We can see this in Romans 9:28. The Spirit gave this to the apostle Paul to write over 1,900 years ago. For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. That “work” is the work of Salvation. To us, this has been a “very long time”. To God, it is not.
We don’t know how long (or short) our life will be. This was adequately declared by the Spirit through the pen of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12. There, we are not only told we don’t know how long we have, but also, we don’t know how our death might occur. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Armed with this information, again I ask, why do people delay to make the needed changes and prepare themselves for eternity? At what point does “short” become “too short” in regard to life? It becomes too short when one: 1) refuses to hear and obey God’s plan of Salvation, or, 2) abandons “that way”, having once “laid hold” on the promise of eternal life. Anyone whose life comes to an end, who is “accountable”, and has refused or rejected God, has lived a “life too short” because after this life, there is no opportunity to make any changes. The warning Words of 2Thessalonians 1:8-10 provide a vivid description of the fate that awaits those whose life becomes “too short” and when that fate will take place. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
The “wise man” Solomon was given the Words of Ecclesiastes 3:17 to pen as he was “moved” by the Holy Spirit. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. We are also told from the pen of Paul, (from the same source), in 2Corinthians 5:10, what we do with our time, while in our bodies, will determine our eternity. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Your life is not “too short” if you act now. 2Corinthians 6:2 clearly shows this. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Don’t let time run out for you.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
