TRUE LONGEVITY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

How do you ensure longevity in life?

It’s a constant point of discussion among people because it seems there is an article or news story published about it every day.

Exercise this way and you’ll live longer. Eat certain foods and avoid eating others and you’ll add more years to your life. Even spiritual actions like prayer and worship are touted as extending a person’s life on earth.

The common problem with these assertions is that they don’t represent the way to true longevity in life. No worldly concepts will.

I was reminded of this truth as I read today’s scripture from Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 as Solomon shares yet another wise observation about life. Look at his words here:

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. Ecclesiastes 7:15

You’ll remember from prior devotions that the matter of meaningless when applied to life takes us to the place where we see the things of the world as meaningless when compared to the Lord who brings meaning to everything. Nothing we experience, to include life itself, would be had it not been brought into being by the great Creator of all things.

This is an important point to go back to as we consider the matter of true longevity. For we need to maintain and sustain our focus on the One who is really in control in life and it isn’t anything we can find in this world.

Solomon reminds us that the most righteous people perish in their righteousness, implying that they at times don’t live as long as the wicked who chose to ignore the Lord and His will and way.

One may take from this that it doesn’t matter is one if righteous or wicked when it comes to living a long time and they would be correct in that understanding. This is because it isn’t a mindset or attitude that brings us eternal life. It’s only Jesus, our only source of true longevity.

The scriptures tell us this in two passages, John 3:16 and John 14:6:

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

God didn’t say that our righteousness would lead us to eternal life. Only believing in His Son Jesus who He sent to save us.

Jesus didn’t say that we needed to be righteous in order to get to God the Father where we will live forever. No He said that He was the only way we could get to the Father. There is no other way but His way because He was the way, He is the way, and He will always be the way to God. Period.

So the next time you hear all these worldly assertions about longevity in life, don’t allow yourself to be distracted from the truth. Stay focused on Jesus, the One who leads us to true longevity and a joyous escape from this meaningless life.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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