LONGEVITY
What would you consider a long life? Many people want to live a long time without really considering all the ramifications of such a prospect. Admittedly, infants and children think little of how long life may be, they live essentially day to day only worrying about being fed and loved. Teens and youth often feel invincible, nothing will really harm them and life seems endless. Being fifty years old is often considered old in their eyes. And by the time one gets to be seventy, well, you’re really still a pup at 50. So how old is a long life?
In today’s world how long would you wish to live? 60 years? 80 years? 100? 110years? Can you imagine living a really long life as the situation is today? Methuselah lived 969 years according to Genesis. That would mean about 940 years of paying taxes, of preparing meals three times a day, of mowing lawns every summer, not to mention the number of times you would have to remodel and repair your home and property at the same time you’re worried about developing dementia. And you would probably have to buy out Amazon to cover all the presents needed for the birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Christmases, Easters, etc., after having descendants for over 900 years. Hopefully your pay would increase with inflation.
Perhaps that is why the longevity of man has been reduced to more manageable levels at the present time. But there is still a considerable variation in the life expectancy of individuals. Why do some people live much longer than others? Certainly genetics and lifestyle play a large part but also may family support and the help of friends. Further additional factors such as faith and obedience to God may also play a significant part.
For instance, it’s stated in Exodus “Honour your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land…” (Exodus 20:12) and Jeremiah says: “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (29:11). Psalm 37:37-38 states: “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.”
This seems to be what happened to Solomon. He was promised by God that “…if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days” (1 Kings 3:14). But Solomon did not maintain his relationship with God and turned to pagan idols and pagan gods in his later years. As a result, his lifespan ended when he was about 60.
Matthew 19:19 again says to “Honor your father and mother…," John 5:23 notes “that all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father…” and honouring is just what is done in the communion when we remember Christ’s sacrifice. What does it say regarding this? 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 “For He who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself…For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”
In Acts 5 it talks about Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit regarding land they had sold and money they were to give to God. Because of this deceit, they both had their lives taken from them the same day. In Luke 12:16-21 it refers to a wealthy man planning all he would do to store his wealth “…I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’. But God said to him ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you…’ “(Luke 12:19-20)
Matthew 22:37-40 state “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets.” If all the Law is in these two, then so is the promise of one’s life being long in the land that God gave us. Science also bears this out stating that religious people live longer. “The risk of dying from all causes is up to 35 percent lower for people who attend religious services once or more a week than for those who attend less frequently.”*
So what about longevity? I don’t think many would opt for the life of Methuselah on this present earth; too many problems. But having a reasonably long life is nice and having an eternally long existence in a place with none of our present problems is even better. There is never a guarantee in this world, but following what is stated in Matthew 22:37-40 can make a big difference. Genetics, lifestyle, and relationships can all be important in determining the length of your life, but so can your faith and relationship with God
And that is definitely something you should think about.
*The Healing Power of Faith by Harold G. Koenig M.D. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Associate professor of Medicine Duke University
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