Bible Studies

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Today we would look at "The Set Life Span-70". It's a topic we must have thought of but with no deep concern. Many years keep going by, and I continue hearing this from the mouth of many people that if a person doesn't approach 70 years, he didn't die at the SET life span which God said humans must get to before they die. In that case they keep explaining that those who die before that age - 70 - die untimely and those who die after 70 die timely. Does this make sense? Is it something similar to what you hear? Whenever I keep asking them where it is, in the bible, they continue hitting the part of scripture where Moses prayed to God that most were dying at or before 70. And going back to read it, I discovered they misinterpreted it.

Please, answer this brethren, 'How many of you have read this part of scripture- psalms 90:7-10?' Please read it also and let me see your views on it we are sharing here.

In Psalms 90: 7-10, Moses prayed to God, 'We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our days with a moan. 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 (NIV).'
Moses said most of the Israelites were dying at 70 or 80 years, and that for them getting to 80 was pertaining to their strength. This doesn't seem like something which was referring to the people of these days but the Israelites who disobeyed the Lord and were under the curse for that forty years of immense wandering. Seventy years has never once being an average life span for mankind; for Moses was just pleading on behalf of the people because they had put God to the test. He was reasoning this because most of them were dying when they hadn't gotten to the age of their fore-fathers: Abraham died at 175, and Isaac at 180 but most were dying in his days at 70 or 80. Why should that be? The reason for this is, 'as we keep living in sin, we are bringing his curse upon ourselves.'

Jesus wants us to know that mankind doesn't have a set life span. Whether we die or live it's to God's glory. That's why when Lazarus died, Jesus said it's for the glory of God. The curse placed upon the Israelites wasn't meant for us Christians but for those who disobeyed him in those days. And if we keep emphasising on it, that man's life-span is set at an average of 70 or 80, then we agree that we also are under God's anger.

Our life span became shortened as a result of sin. However, there are many whom God have given the grace to live over 130 years. In Africa, we have found many dying at 150 years. But it's not about WHEN a person dies but IF he died to glorify God.

So, if a christian dies before 70, what would you call it? The Lord is the one in charge of our lives and we are accountable to him. He may require our lives anytime he wants us to come to be with him NOW. Those who don't have MUCH work on earth to do for him will be taken away to live with him forever.

However, a christian dies above 70 or 80 years doesn't mean he went to God's Kingdom. Irrespective of when a christian dies, what matters is "is he in heaven or hell? Did he live justly, righteously before God?"

Therefore, is it possible for a christian to die at 70 or before or after it?? Yes, it is and it is also possible for christians to live up to 130 years too. Do you agree with this? Enoch walked with God and lived as God willed that he will. The result of his walk was that he was taken away and the longevity passed down to Methuselah. Ask yourself, "should Enoch have bothered about the day he would die?"
I met a woman who had twins and had her two kids dead after she gave birth to them. They didn't live to 9 months before they died. What would you call that?

My dear sister, Violeta Hurtado Simeon wrote in a meeting, 'The favour and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and dwelling-place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever-living God, and believers find him so. When God, by sickness, or other afflictions, turns men to destruction, he thereby calls men to return unto him to repent of their sins,...' and I will also say, 'it is an expression of his love.'

His Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin and spread his life into us; and if we don't trust him, how would we live as he intends? See what Jesus said to me about the life of the Spirit: 'The truth is most revealed when you contain the life shared in intimacy. Those who hear and don't want to believe will hear My Spirit convicting them of Sin. These are anointed words which My Spirit have released through earthly vessels and will deeply reveal them through many more whom I am gathering. Intimacy can rescue even the broken-legged and those who feel how proud they are.'

Obviously, 70 or 80 is just to scare the believers to pressure and also make them look at God as one who uses our lives for a base ball game. Intimacy with Jesus is the key to longevity.

Jesus said that the number of hairs are known to him and that the sparrows die at God's will too but when christians die, doesn't it seem to us that God permitted it. We won't die, unless he permits it. It's his will of permission. When Lazarus died, he said it was to God's glory which pointed that it was his will, so that his glory will be known.

Finally, we shouldn't be worried of dying but keep trusting God who has power over Eternal Death. We should cling to him for the Life which he offers those who are willing to walk with him. And let our life span not be a trouble to us but let's keep living in awareness of his presence, knowing nothing can happen to us, unless he permits it.

God bless you! Amen.

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