Is our time of death appointed?

TL;DR:

Every human being that has ever lived will die, and God alone knows the last breath of everyone He has ever created or will create. Life is short; may we live it well.

The Bible teaches that God is omniscient (Isaiah 46:9–10; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20). Because of that, He, of course, knows the entire future, including the date that each of us will die (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16). Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t share that information with us. Rather, Scripture teaches us to make the best use of our time on Earth, knowing that it is limited. In fact, the Bible shows that awareness of our limited time makes us wiser (Psalm 90:12), likely because it helps us to prioritize what is important. It also teaches us humility since our life is not ours to plan at will, but we’re to be aware that God’s will is what ultimately prevails (James 4:13-15). Scripture shows that the best use of our time is in glorifying God as doing so has the most lasting significance for us and others (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:58).

from the old testament

Every person will die as a consequence of sin that entered our world (Genesis 3:19).
If God knows all things, He clearly knows the time each of us will die. In fact, Psalm 139:16 (NIV) clearly notes, "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Because God knows the exact length of our lives and we do not, how should we respond? Psalm 90:12
says: "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." We are called to live each day carefully and fully, knowing that each day is important and that tomorrow is uncertain.

from the new testament

Jesus advises us against “lay[ing] up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19), but instead to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). Our time on earth, though limited, matters. The greatest use of our lives is in honoring the Lord.
Everyone’s death is appointed (Hebrews 9:27).
In light of the brevity of life, we are to be wise and surrendered to God’s will (James 4:13-15)

implications for today

From a human perspective, the way we live offers us a certain level of control over the time of our death. For example, a healthy lifestyle will likely lead to a longer lifetime. A person involved in a dangerous lifestyle or job is also more likely to die younger. Even the extreme example of suicide appears to offer full control of ending one's life at the time of his or her choosing. Yet from God's perspective, He already knows the end from the beginning. No matter the choices we make in life, He already knows the outcome of those choices. Further, He has a divine plan that supersedes our human plans regarding the length of our lives.We don’t know how long our life will be, but we are called to live each day faithfully and fully as unto the Lord, knowing that each day is a gift from Him. James 4:13-15 offers another example of how to live based on the uncertainty of tomorrow: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

Acknowledging that our lives are ultimately in God’s hands should shift the way we approach each day. While we may make plans based on our desires or circumstances, we must recognize that our plans are subject to God’s will. Living with the understanding that life is short encourages us to be intentional with how we use our time—living faithfully, serving others, and glorifying God in all that we do. It also calls us to trust in His sovereignty, knowing that, whether our lives are long or short, our purpose is found in honoring Him each day. As we navigate uncertainty, let’s commit to saying, "If the Lord wills," and live in a way that reflects our trust in His perfect plan for our lives.

Finally, it is essential to believe in the gospel of Jesus today and to live it out because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Hebrews 3:7 shares, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Since no person knows the day of his or her death, we are to believe in Christ and live fully for Him each day, being prepared for the time when we meet Him face to face.

understand

Everyone will die, and God alone knows the exact time.
Life is brief, so we must live fully and faithfully for the Lord.
Since everyone has an appointed time of death, we should live with eternity in mind.

reflect

How does knowing that God has ordained the length of your life shape the way you live each day?
How can you grow in surrendering your plans to God's will, knowing that tomorrow is uncertain?
What does it mean for you personally to live with eternity in mind?

engage

How should the certainty of death and the brevity of life impact the way we live for God and love others?
God knows the appointed time of every person’s death (Psalm 139:16), yet human choices, including suicide, exist within His sovereignty. While suicide tragically cuts life short from a human perspective, God, who knows the end from the beginning, is never surprised and calls us to trust Him even in suffering. How can we reconcile God's sovereignty over the timing of our death with the reality of human choices, including suicide?
What does James 4:13-15 teach us about making plans and trusting God’s sovereignty?

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