The verse in Ecclesiastes 3:2 states, “a time to be born, and a time to die.” This is part of a poetic passage describing the seasons and cycles of life. The teacher in Ecclesiastes observes that there are appointed times for all kinds of activities and events under heaven – including birth and death.
This reminds us that our lives are in God’s hands. He determines the length of our days and the timing of our birth and death (Psalm 139:16). We did not choose when we would be born, and we cannot ultimately choose when we will die. These major events are divinely appointed.
Though we cannot control the timing, we can find meaning and purpose in the life we’ve been given. The teacher emphasizes there is a time for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). So we should make the most of the time allotted to us and fulfill our calling. As Psalm 90:12 (ESV) says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
The fact that God appoints the spans of our lives should lead us to trust Him. We can take comfort knowing our times are in His hands and submit to His perfect timing. As Job observed, “Man’s days are determined, and the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits so he cannot pass” (Job 14:5 ESV).
1. The timing of birth is in God’s hands
God is sovereign over the timing of when people are born. David affirmed this truth, saying, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16 ESV). Before David was even conceived, his days were written in God’s book.
Similarly, Paul told the Athenians that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:26 ESV). The locations and life spans of all people are ordained by Him.
Since God is the author of life, He has the prerogative to decide when each person will be born. Galatians 4:4 states, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman…” The birth of Christ occurred according to God’s timing and fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). Likewise, our births occur according to His divine timing.
Sometimes people question why God allows certain children to be born in difficult circumstances. But we have limited knowledge compared to the One who sees the end from the beginning. What we see as unjust or ill-timed may in fact serve His good purposes in ways we cannot yet grasp. We are called to trust God’s timing and sovereignty.
2. The timing of death is in God’s hands
Just as God decides the time of a person’s birth, He also determines the time of one’s death. Psalm 139:16 says He has allotted the number of our days. And Job declared, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5 NLT). Our lives end according to God’s decree.
Only God has the authority and power to give life and bring it to an end in keeping with His divine purposes. Deuteronomy 32:39 states, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” He alone has the keys of life and death.
God sometimes ends lives suddenly through events like accidents or illnesses. We may wonder why He allows lives to be cut short. But His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). We have limited knowledge, whereas He knows the beginning from the end. We can trust that He brings about death at precisely the right time in accomplishing His sovereign plans.
Death seals our earthly records; after it comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). So before that final appointment, we must be ready by repenting of sin and trusting in Christ. There will be no second chances after we draw our last breaths.
3. Our lives have meaning because they are bounded
Since God has bounded our lives, we only have so much time on this earth. This shortness of life gives it significance. The teacher in Ecclesiastes observes that God “has put eternity into man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV). We have an inborn longing for our lives to count for something lasting and meaningful.
If we lived forever on this earth, we could perpetually put things off until tomorrow. There would be less motivation to live purposefully and make our limited time here count. But knowing our days are numbered provides an urgency to make the most of the time we have.
The bounded nature of our lives provides a framework for accomplishing God’s purposes. Ephesians 2:10 says “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” He intends for us to fulfill His plans during our allotted span.
Even when life seems short and tragic to us, God can bring tremendous good from it. Often those with fewer years on earth accomplish more eternal fruit than those with many years but little dedication to God’s kingdom. Since God bounds the time we have, we must trust His purposes and timing in it.
4. We should number our days
Since the timing of our birth and death are outside our control, how should we respond? One application is to number our days and make wise use of the time entrusted to us. As Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 ESV). Numbering our days means living with awareness of life’s brevity.
When we recognize that life is fleeting, it leads to wisdom in how we spend our time. We begin to evaluate activities based on their eternal significance rather than just temporary enjoyment or comfort. This gives us a heart of wisdom to live purposefully.
Numbering our days also helps us maintain an eternal perspective. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 notes, God has put eternity in our hearts – we’re wired for more than just temporal, earthly pursuits. Keeping the brevity of life in mind helps orient us toward eternity and the world to come. We live more consciously preparing for the day we will meet Christ face to face.
Numbering our days provides motivation to make every moment count for God’s glory. As Paul wrote, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV). We must redeem the time in light of eternity.
5. We can find comfort that our lives are in God’s hands
Since God is sovereign over the spans of our lives, we can take comfort knowing our times are in His hands. Our lives do not unfold randomly and meaninglessly. Rather, He works all things together for our good according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). Even difficult or painful circumstances occur only as He has approved them.
We may not always understand God’s timing in the events of our lives. But we can trust He is in control. As Paul says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 ESV). Everything that occurs fits into His greater plans for us.
God promises to be with His children at all times—including our final moments on this earth. David proclaimed, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 ESV). God remains present when we pass from this life into eternity.
Since God bounds our earthly lives, we should not cling too tightly to this world. As eternal beings, our hope rests in heaven and the resurrection to come. The end of our mortal lives marks the beginning of our full inheritance in Christ. So we can face death with hope rather than fear or regret.
6. We should live ready for our appointed time of death
Knowing our lives have an expiration date, we should make sure we are ready for that final appointment. Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) teaches, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Death seals our eternal fate; there are no second chances after our last breath.
To be ready for our appointed time, we must be reconciled to God. Romans 6:23 states, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.” Through faith in Christ, our sins can be forgiven so we can have eternal life rather than eternal death (John 3:16).
Living ready for death also involves maintaining a right relationship with God on a daily basis. We should regularly confess our sins and walk in obedience to Christ. He warned, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40 ESV). We must live prepared for His return or our homegoing.
We prepare by investing in heavenly rather than earthly treasures. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20 ESV). Our works for eternity will outlast whatever we achieve in this fleeting life.
Numbering our days reminds us that life is brief and uncertain. We must diligently watch and pray, being ready at all times for our Master’s return or our departure to be with Him. Living in readiness brings hope rather than fear.
7. We must trust God’s timing in death, not cut life short
Since God appoints the boundaries of our lives, suicide is never the right choice. Only God has authority over life and death. Choosing the timing of our own death attempts to usurp God’s sovereignty.
Suicidal people often see death as an escape from pain and problems. But we all experience suffering in this fallen world, and God intends to use it for our good (Romans 5:3-5). He promises to sustain us through life’s trials until our appointed end (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can trust Him to bring us through dark valleys.
God also forbids murder, which encompasses killing others or oneself (Exodus 20:13). He determines when each person’s life should end, and we should not prematurely take a life He created and oversees.
If you are considering suicide, turn to God and His people for help and hope. Reflect on the truth that He oversees the boundaries of your life with loving purpose. Pray for the faith to entrust your times to Him. Your life has meaning and purpose, even if you cannot yet see it. God’s grace is sufficient to carry you through your darkest days.
8. We should not prolong life unnaturally, when God decrees its end
Just as we should not cut short the lives God has appointed, neither should we try to artificially prolong them beyond His boundaries. As believers, we can avoid the extremes of either hastily ending life or grasping to extend it unnaturally.
When we use means like medicine and technology to preserve life and health, we are wisely stewarding the bodies God has given us. However, we can cross the line into defiance of God’s sovereignty. Keeping people alive past God’s intended boundary for their lives may rob them of a peaceful death and entrance to glory.
As believers, our hope is ultimately realized not in this earthly life but in the resurrection to come. So we need not desperately cling to mortal existence when God decrees our season here is through. Rather, we can trust Him to sustain us in our final days and welcome us into His presence for eternity.
When treatments clearly appear futile, costly, and unduly burdensome, we may decline them in submission to God’s timing. However, actively ending a life is still prohibited. As long as we have life and breath, we should honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). But we need not artificially prolong life once He has determined to end it.
Approaching death is a delicate matter that requires prayer and wisdom. Seeking godly counsel can help assess options that both steward life well and submit to God’s boundaries for our lives. We want to be faithful stewards while also surrendering to God’s sovereignty over life and death.
9. Christ’s resurrection gives hope beyond earthly death
For believers, the boundary of physical death is not final. Because Christ was resurrected, He promises that those who trust in Him will also be resurrected to eternal life (John 11:25, Romans 6:5). While death seals our earthly record, it ushers us into our inheritance in Christ.
Knowing our lives do not end at the grave can give us hope as we reflect on our mortality. Paul says not to grieve like those without hope, because Christ’s resurrection ensures our future resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Believers can rejoice in the hope of victory over death.
The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. As Paul explains, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14 NIV). But Christ has risen, so we can trust we will too.
The hope Christ provides allows us to face death with boldness. His atoning work has disarmed its power to separate us eternally from God (Hebrews 2:14-15). It serves as a passageway believers can walk through in the assurance of what lies beyond it.
The boundary of our earthly lives ushers us into eternal joy in God’s presence for those who know Christ. Even when death comes unexpectedly soon, we can trust God’s purposes in Christ will be fulfilled. Our resurrection hope takes the sting out of death’s arrival.
10. We live in light of eternity, while making the most of earthly time
Knowing our present lives are fleeting should orient us toward eternity. Colossians 3:2 (ESV) instructs, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Our lives and labors take on meaning in light of the world to come.
Keeping eternity in view prompts us to live for Christ’s kingdom more than our earthly comforts. Our giving, ministry, moral choices, and stewardship of talents are all transformed when we recognize the temporary nature of this life.
Numbering our days reminds us not to waste time or delay pursuing God’s purposes for our lives. The brevity of life creates a sense of urgency to maximize the opportunities we’ve been given. The time is coming when our earthly works and chances will end.
However, a preoccupation with eternity should not cause us to neglect our earthly duties. We must still provide for our families, fulfill our vocations, and minister to those God places around us in the here and now. But we do so with an eye to the world to come and its rewards.
Our eternal citizenship transforms, but does not negate, our earthly lives. As Philippians 3:20 puts it, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” This hope empowers us to live purposefully in the present as we look ahead to eternity.