I have shingles. And no, I am not re-roofing my home.
Also known as Herpes Zoster, shingles is a sickness caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has chickenpox, the virus enters their nervous system and stays inactive for years. When a person is under stress or their immune system is compromised, shingles can flare up. Typically, it presents as a rash accompanied by severe nerve pain.
Shingles isn’t fun. It’s painful. It can last for weeks.
But that’s not what’s bothering me the most. Shingles is making me feel old. In my mind. I’ve always equated shingles with old age. When the doctor told me I had shingles, my jaw dropped.
It’s official. I’m old. Don’t get me wrong. For years, I’ve complained about being old, especially when teaching Bible Class at the nursing homes. But I’ve always said it somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I’ve said it so that people would say, “You’re not that old!”
But now I have shingles - a painful reminder of ever- flowing sands of time.
In Psalm 90, Moses reminds us that “our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). Some may make it even to ninety or one hundred, but in the end, our days here on earth are numbered.
In fact, Moses prayed to God, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). What Moses was praying was that God help us to recognize the brevity of life here on earth, to remember what is truly important, and to make the most of the days God has given us.
Life on Earth is short. As the years pass, we become increasingly aware of how fast it flies.
Eternity, on the other hand, is forever. So often in our lives, we get caught up in chasing after money and things, which don’t last. We get caught up in the drama of work, politics, and our world. We forget that all of this is fleeting.
The only thing that truly matters is where we will spend eternity. Thankfully, we have a God who worked all of time and history to bring his Son Jesus into this world to live and die as our Savior.
Jesus only lived 33 years here on earth, yet not one of those days was wasted. Jesus lived and died to rescue us from the eternity in hell we deserve because of all the days we have wasted on meaningless pursuits, living for ourselves, and mindlessly scrolling through our phones.
Because of Jesus through faith in Jesus - you are forgiven for every poor priority and wasted moment. Because of Jesus, you have forever waiting for you in the eternal fountain of youth of heaven.
Knowing and trusting that, remember that your days here on earth are numbered. Focus on the things that matter. Live every day as if it were your last.
Shingles is a reminder for me to do just that.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving’' and “364 Days of Devotion , ” on Amazon .com.
