Thoughts on Threescore and Ten

By Joe Slater “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10, KJV).     I reached my threescore and ten a few days ago. That milestone gives me pause to reflect a bit. By God’s grace I’m in fairly decent health, so look out, fourscore, here I come!     When Moses wrote that Psalm, he was already well above eighty years old. He would survive to 120! But he had lived through some frightfully difficult times as he led the Israelites through the wilderness. Their persistent rebellion had brought God’s wrath down upon them again and again! Multitudes had died before their time. The average human life span would continue to plummet for a good while.     My own life has been far less turbulent, though not without its trials. I’ve been blessed to do the work I love for over 46 years. I’m not naïve enough to think I have 46 more to continue working! If I’m to accomplish anything for the Lord, the time is now. Then again, that has always been the case.     Only one life         Twill soon be past     Only what’s done         For Christ will last (C. T. Studd)     Faith, family, and friends surpass all else in importance. I’ve always “known” that, but every passing year makes it clearer. I hope that’s true for you as well.

- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Lakeside Church of Christ in Springfield, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://www.lakesidecoc.us/