Can We Make Old Age Wait?

Can We Make Old Age Wait?

As I study God’s Word, I find that there are things we can do to make old age wait? Most realize that there are definitely things we can do to shorten our life span. If we continually sow seeds of unhealthy choices in eating, drinking, and/or smoking, coupled with little exercise and much worry, we will create a crop of circumstances that subtract years from our lives. On the other side of the coin, we can sow seeds of health, fitness, and trust in and obedience to His promises. This will yield a wonderful crop of added years to our life. Do you believe this?  I believe this because God’s Word declares it.

Life Addition Keys

A few major addition keys mentioned in the all powerful Word of God include: Wisdom, Fear of the Lord, Right Words, a Joyful Heart, and Honor for Father and Mother. If you do certain things, promises of health and long life are available. As I have studied the Dake’s Study Bible, I have found a wealth of scriptures on the promise of and the knowledge of how to have long life.

How to Live Long

“The word prolong with its various endings is used 25 times, and nearly every time of life on earth being extended if certain conditions are met.”  ~ Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible. Among other word studies on this topic, Dake gives 10 Scriptural Conditions of Long Life. I am listing them here and then writing out a few of the references. Dake, who was a master of Biblical study, says that Christians are in the habit of magnifying the promises and ignoring the terms required for fulfillment of these promises:

1. Live free from idolatry (Dt 4:25-26)
2. Keep commandments (Dt 4:40, 6:2, 11:8-9, 32:46-47)
3. Honor parents (Dt 5:16, Eph 6:2)
4. Walk in God’s ways (Dt 5:33)
5. Fear God (Prov 10:27)
6. Humility and obedience (Dt 17:20)
7. Kindness to animals (Dt 22:6-7)
8. Faithfulness to God (Dt 17:20)
9. Having understanding and knowledge (Prov 28:2)
10. Hatred of covetousness (Pr. 28:16)

Knowledge, Belief, Faith

No promise will profit us if we don’t know about it. Even if we know the promise, but do not believe it; there will be no faith to receive. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Take a closer look at a few of these long life promises written for you and for me.

Proverbs 10:27 ESV

The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

Proverbs 3:16

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (Wisdom)

Ephesians 6:2-3 ESV

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Proverbs 17:22 ESV

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 4:10 ESV

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

Subtractions from Long Life

Wrong Words

Psalm 34:12-16 ESV 

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

Unbelief

Hebrews 11:6 ESV 

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Wrong Choices

Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.

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Failure to Rightly Divide the Word of Truth

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Thinking and Believing too Small

John 14:12-14 ESV 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1 John 3:22 ESV 

And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

How Long is Long Life?

Genesis 6:3 ESV

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

Many quote Psalm 90 as giving the length of life as 70 or 80 years. Again, I give reference to a master Bible scholar who believes that the scripture should be used to interpret scripture, Finis Jennings Dake. This passage refers to length of life in the wilderness in the time of Moses, which was shortened so that the old generation died off within the 40 years. That generation was under a curse because of repeated rebellion.  God told them they would not enter the promised land. “No authority here is given for setting the length of man’s life as 70 or 80 years.” ~Dake