TWO INESCAPABLE FACTS
For those who believe in nothing unless it’s been validated by science, then it’s official. We are all going to die. We cannot cheat aging or death. This is the conclusion of a team of scientists led by Fernando Colchero, University of Southern Denmark and Susan Alberts, Duke University, North Carolina. And they were not alone in their research. Their team included researchers from 42 institutions across 14 countries. This study was a mammoth undertaking and analyzed populations in numerous countries. They even studied primates, both in the wild and in captivity.
In their study, Drs. Colchero and Alberts compared the relationship between life expectancy and lifespan equality. Life expectancy measures the average age reached in a population, which is affected by infant and child mortality rates. Lifespan equality measures how close to the same age at which people die.
In a Third World country, for instance, the child mortality rate will be high and this will drag down the overall average life expectancy. Consequently, in such a country there will be a greater disparity of ages at death. Many will die young, yet many others will still live to be very old – into their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Under these circumstances, lifespan equality is very low.
Yet, in a developed country with modern medical practices available to all, the child mortality rate will diminish. When this happens both the average life expectancy and the lifespan equality will rise. Most people will live to relatively the same age. More people will be able to live a full lifespan. But the length of that lifespan will not increase. Its people will all still age and die.
But wait a minute. I watch infomercials all the time that tell me there are ways to increase my T-level, eliminate joint-pain, remove wrinkles, and reverse the aging process. Isn’t the human lifespan continually rising? What about all the advances in medical science to eliminate aging and death?
I’m sorry. But the only way to reverse the aging process is if you’re already aging prematurely due to poor diet, overeating, and substance abuse – and you start eating healthy and living right. Although the average lifespan among humans is increasing, it’s only because more infants, children, and young people are living out a full life. People aren’t actually living longer. It’s simply that more people are now living a full life by being healthier in their behavior and diet. It’s only the average that’s increasing. But the highest possible lifespan remains the same.
There have always been people who’ve lived past 100 years. So, as medical science progresses, more people will be able to reach that goal. But we can never stretch the human lifespan much beyond 100.
None of this surprises the Christian believer. The Bible has told us from the beginning that all people are bound to die. Death is the result of sin entering the world through the first human parents (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-17). When they sinned, their bodies – which were designed to live forever – suddenly began to break down. Sickness, disease, genetic mutations, birth defects, and all the maladies that curse humanity are the result of sin’s ravages in our race. Slowly, but surely, death overpowered our parents – as it has done to us, their children, ever since. Medical science cannot reverse this.
But death wasn’t only physical. A far more significant death took place the very moment our original parents sinned. This was spiritual death. Our original parents were cut off from the life of God. Their spirits became corrupted, their hearts were darkened, they believed a lie, and an unnatural fear of God overwhelmed them. At the sound of God walking in the garden, they fled and hid themselves (Genesis 3:8-9).
Tragically, the offspring they produced were afflicted with the very same disease and corruption of sin. This is why all human beings are inclined to do evil. Our own sinful nature enslaves us. It’s why all humans are incurable racists – yes, if you’re a human being, then you’re a racist. It’s why we need laws to reign in our evil desires, subdue our violent outbursts, and restrain our egos. It’s why we need governments to enforce those laws and punish violations (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Spiritually, we are dead, corrupt, and deceived (Ephesians 2:1-3) and there will be no limit to our evil if we are not restrained.
Worst of all, our sins have broken the laws of God and we all stand guilty in the court of heaven. All of us are condemned to suffer God’s unquenchable wrath (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
The only hope of reversing our hopeless condition is through the redemption of Jesus Christ – by His atoning death and life-giving resurrection. As the Lamb of God, Jesus took all of humanity’s sin upon Himself (John 1:29). As the atoning sacrifice for sin, Jesus satisfied God’s justice and quenched His wrath against us (Romans 3:24-26; 1 John 2:2). Therefore, our sins have already been judged. Judgment day took place when Jesus died upon the cross.
And when He rose from the grave, He conquered death. And to all who embrace Jesus by faith, He promises to resurrect them as well (John 5:24-29). When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He sends His Spirit into our hearts as a guarantee of eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). His Holy Spirit causes our spirits to be born-again – brought to life by His resurrection power (Romans 6:1-11). And His abiding presence in our hearts renews us day by day and causes us to grow into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16-18). Then, when He returns, He will resurrect our bodies that we may share eternal life with Him in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:12-57; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Two inescapable facts stare us in the face. One is the inevitability of aging, death, and God’s judgment. The other is Christ’s redemption to all who receive Him by faith. To everyone who believes in Jesus, there will be forgiveness and cleansing from sin, eternal life, and the resurrection from death into glory. Therefore, believe in and embrace Jesus Christ. He will raise you from spiritual death now and from physical death in the future. Until that day, He’ll give you His Spirit to dwell in your heart, to renew you day by day, and to assure you that He’ll perfect His redemption of you at the resurrection.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, to You I now open the door of my heart and ask You to come in and to save me from my sins. Wash me in Your blood. Make me alive in my heart and cause me to be born again. Send Your Spirit into my heart to renew me daily and to guarantee me of the resurrection from the dead. Amen.
(Information from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210616094141.htm)
