January 4, 2026 | Ptr Peter Tanchi
A “Happy New Year” is meaningful if you are willing to change what needs changing. A change of calendar does not mean a change of your heart. Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm in the Bible, written by Moses who walked closely with God in all his 120 years on earth. What can we learn on how to live wisely in light of eternity from this psalm?
KNOW WHO GOD IS (Psalm 90:1-2)
Our greatest weakness today in the church is our inadequate view of God. Our God is too small, so that we are not able to respond properly to problems in life. Our moral life will not be in order if we do not have a right view of God. “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound…while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate.” (A.W. Tozer).
God is our home (dwelling place). Home is where you find rest, comfort and security. No matter what your own experience of “home” may be, God is letting us know that He is our refuge, He is our home. Though Moses wandered through the wilderness with the Israelites for 40 years and never got to enter the Promised Land, he can say that God was his home. God is also our Creator; He is the one who made the mountains (a symbol of stability). God is eternal; He created the heavens and the earth. We don’t truly have a real understanding of what it means for God to be eternal because we have a beginning but God has placed eternity in our hearts that’s why we have a longing to live forever.
God knows everything about you, so you don’t have to pretend or try to impress Him; He loves you! Because God is eternal, He does not change. He’s perfect and He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When He makes a promise, it will happen. We can trust God! When we’re anxious and worried, we’re not trusting Him. When we don’t know God, we won’t trust Him. Jesus claimed to be the beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) (Revelation 1:8). When we have a proper view of God, we know that Jesus is coming again (“who is to come”)! This makes us accountable and transforms us to live for eternity.
KNOW WHO WE ARE (Psalm 90:3-11)
Moses lets us know that our lives on earth are short compared to eternity. He compares us to what the flood sweeps away, and to grass that wither within the day (v. 3-6). That’s why we need to live wisely in light of eternity!
Moses talks about our “secret sins” that God sees. We are sinful and we go against God’s will. God’s anger towards sin is not arbitrary. He will not allow unrighteousness in us because He is holy. For your own sake, you need to change how you live your life. We may not experience God’s wrath as we imagine it, but God is speaking to you through your anxiety and fears (v. 7-9, 11). He also speaks to us about the brevity of life (v.10). Live wisely by knowing who God is, knowing who you are, and…
PRAY FOR GOD’S FAVOR (Psalm 90:12-17)
We need to learn to pray like Moses did:
- Favor of wisdom.
Your prayer life reveals your spirituality; it is the evidence of your intimacy with God. Numbering your days means to make your life count (v.12). Wisdom is not knowledge but the application of knowledge. Jesus spoke of a rich man who only considered this life when making plans (Luke 12:16, 18-19). There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable, but we will be foolish to limit our goals for only this life (Luke 12:20-21). How long we live is determined by only one Person: God. When your time is up, you report to God. God is not against riches, but He wants us to have true treasures. Everything in this world is temporal; we should invest in eternity because our souls are eternal. A wise person will make the most out of his or her time on earth, pursuing God’s will (Ephesians 5:15-17). We must read the Bible so that we may be careful to do what God says (Joshua 1:8). Read the whole Bible if you truly believe it’s God’s Word!
- Favor of lovingkindness “Grace.”
Real satisfaction can only come from the lovingkindness of God (Psalm 90:13-15). Hesed is the Hebrew word for “lovingkindness” that means covenant love + mercy + compassion + faithfulness + kindness (Lamentations 3:21-23). Moses learned to intercede for the people he led (Numbers 11:1-2, 14:11-12). Moses prayed according to God’s lovingkindness (Numbers 14:19-20). We need God’s lovingkindness (grace) because we need forgiveness and salvation (Ephesians 1:7). The grace of God is found in Jesus!
- Favor of joy.
Real joy is God’s gift (Psalm 90:14-15). It transcends difficulties and difficult people. Moses went through problems even as he was doing God’s will (Numbers 11:11-12). He was having a miserable time because of the people he was leading (Numbers 11:14-15). He needed to experience joy; he understood that he needed God (Exodus 33:15). A prayer for joy is a good prayer (Psalm 5:12), and intimacy with God brings joy – His presence brings joy (Psalm 16:11, 4:7). Joy is the fruit if the Spirit (Galatians 5:21-22, Romans 15:13). Only Jesus can fill the God-shaped vacuum in our hearts and souls.
- Favor of lasting legacy.
Moses asked God to “confirm” the work of his hands (Psalm 90:16-17). Without God’s blessing, everything in our lives right now will eventually disappear. Only two things will remain forever: what you do for people in the name of Jesus (Hebrews 6:10) and the souls of men (Daniel 12:2-3, Proverbs 11:30). Make disciples to make disciples starting with your family and friends! Let’s get involved in reaching the campuses and the next generation for Jesus. This 2026, live wisely in light of eternity!