It's hard to believe 2014 is here! And, yes, it's also amazing how fast the years of life fly past.

Being born in the middle of the last century, the coming of each new year is a reminder to me that the majority of my days in this world are already spent and the number remaining grows smaller with each passing year.

Psalm 90 reminds us that "the days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (v. 10). It also tells us the reason for our brief lives -- God's wrath upon our sin and his setting limits to our lives because of our fallen condition (v. 3-11).

Moses, the author of this inspired Psalm, reminds us "to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (v. 12). And, of course, the wisdom of which he speaks is that revealed in the Bible, and especially in the revelation of God's gift of salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.

I've learned over the years that I fail to keep my New Year's resolutions, whether they be to lose weight, exercise more or to live a healthier lifestyle. Somehow, it seems I fail to live up to so many of the goals I set -- at least when measured against the notches in my belt. I continue to grow older, and I can't quite do everything I used to be able to do just a few years ago.

While not ready to give up entirely on some of my past resolutions, I think it would be wiser for me to simply reaffirm a mission statement for my life and then examine the things I do and how I live in regard to whether it is helping me achieve that mission or not.

I know I'm not going to live forever. Even if I eat all the right foods, exercise and maintain the perfect weight, I am still going to grow older and one day leave this world. So, instead of trying to live as though I'm going to be here forever, I need to focus on using the time I have left for a good cause.

No, I'm not going to devote my remaining life to saving whales or even attempting to restore America to its constitutional roots, though those are not bad causes. I'm going to continue to focus on bearing witness to the eternal salvation God has provided in His Son because, ultimately, that is all that matters once this life is done.

Yes, I've said and written this before. It's nothing new. I've spoken of having Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21-23) as my mission statement. It's that I often find myself sidetracked and focusing on things that are far less important in the overall scheme of things.

And so, as another new year begins, I am simply reminding myself of why I am still here and how I should be using the time I have left here in this world. And, who knows, if I weigh all I say and do by my mission statement, I might even have a better reason to eat healthy, exercise a little more and lose weight so that I can better focus on my mission of telling my children, grandchildren and everyone of God's grace and mercy in Christ Jesus.

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author.