When God created Adam and Eve they were infused with so much life and vitality that they could potentially have lived for ever. However, God had warned that if they rebelled against Him and disobeyed His command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they would surely die. (Gen 2:17)
Unfortunately, the progenitors of the human race were as rebellious as we are and ate of the forbidden fruit. This unleashed the power of corruption and death upon the human race and we all suffer under its cruel bondage.
Rom 5:12 …sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…
The human genome was so perfectly created that the impact of the power of death only gradually began to corrupt it and so reduce the average lifespan of humankind. We read in Genesis 5 that Adam lived for 930 years. In fact, most of his early successors lived for over 900 years, (the most notable being Methuselah who lived for an amazing 969 years). However, we should note that the Genesis 5 account emphasizes humankind’s mortality. Although these men lived remarkably long lives, they all eventually died.
After the flood, the average lifespan of humankind began to decrease notably. In Genesis 11 we read that Noah’s son Shem lived for 600 years. Two generations later the average lifespan had reduced to around 400 years. A couple of generations later it was in the two hundred’s. Further on in the book of Genesis we see that the recorded lifespans of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all lie in the one hundred’s.
So we notice how the average lifespan of humankind began to decrease under the “law of sin and death” (See Rom 8:2). By the time Moses wrote Psalm 90 people only lived to about 70 to 80 years on average. Psa 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
There are many things which impact on the health of the human genome in this sin sick world. Scientists estimate that there are between 100 to 300 mutations in our genes in every generation. Most, if not all of these render the mutated gene dysfunctional. These errors are then passed on like typos and spelling mistakes in a document being photo-copied. From this we can conclude that humankind is not evolving, but devolving physically. Creationist scientists argue that this proves we were created in recent history and did not evolve over aeons of time otherwise we would have suffered genetic meltdown and extinction.
Where does this leave us? Are we doomed to die by extinction? The good news is that God has begun a process of recreation to rescue us from the clutches of sin and death. He starts by regenerating the human spirit. Eph 2:4-5 …because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Rom 8:2 …through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
God continues by transforming the soul of man to be more Christlike. Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
In the last phase of His rescue mission God will redeem our mortal, physical bodies to be immortal, imperishable and glorious. 1Co 15:42-44 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
So, how long do you have to live? How long do I have to live? I can’t know for sure. I do know I will die physically sooner or later – that’s a given! At present I am fighting Multiple Myeloma, a cancer that my doctors say is “treatable but incurable”. This might shorten my life expectancy. However, I am looking beyond my present physical sufferings to a glorious future which God promises believers. I may be fortunate and live into my eighties (God will have the final say), but what is more important is that my spirit has been regenerated by the Spirit of God and that I’m destined to live forever in a glorious resurrection body.
My friend, I don’t know what illnesses or physical sufferings you may be going through, but I would like to close by encouraging you with these words from Scripture which have meant a great deal to me.
2Co 4:16 …we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
P.S. If you have followed the link to read this blog you are already on my website. Should you need more information about my book “Going Against Goliath: How to fight cancer and win”, please explore the website further. The book is available on Amazon, Kindle and Audiobooks.
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