IN Psalm 90 Moses reflects upon the eternity of God, and the fleeting nature of man: God is from everlasting, but man passes away like the grass of the Eastern fields, and if his years are prolonged beyond the normal span, "their pride is but labour and sorrow, for it is soon gone and we fly away" (v. 10, RV). Here is the classic doctrine of the mortality of man, such as we proclaim it from our platforms. But look what Moses does with it: "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." From the doctrine we must draw the conclusion that if our life is indeed so short and for us too is soon gone, then we should be using it now while we have it, to learn that wisdom of God which alone can save us. Or consider Peter's forecast of the divine judgments to come upon the world, when. . ."the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up"; and then his use of this: "Seeing that these things are all thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy living and godliness ... ?" (2 Peter 3:11, RV) ... So it is with all the doctrines of Scripture; they are all intended to have a transforming power, and it is in this way that we should view them. This reflection provokes another: if the Scriptures are designed to have such a vital influence upon us, how regularly and how prayerfully we should be reading them; and what a wise arrangement it has been that in our daily readings we set out to read all of them, and not just a selection according to our taste.

FRED PEARCE, The Christadelphian, 1977, page 169