How long should a Christian's lifespan be?

[Aldebaran]

When reading scripture, it sounds like it should be pretty short, and I'm not talking about the difference between the lengths of time people in the Old Testament lived compared to the NT. But a promise of long life was often made in the OT for people who lived for God and served Him well, and people would live out those years. But then in the NT, it seems that it all got reversed! Take Jesus and all His followers: Jesus was crucified just 3.5 years after starting his ministry. Then all His followers were killed not long after, either by being crucified, or stoned, or whatever other means could be found.

Why isn't long life a promise for the faithful anymore?

 

[GeorgeJ]

You're born, you live, you die. No guarantees on the length of life for Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, atheists. It's the human condition.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Why isn't long life a promise for the faithful anymore?

My Father's Kingdom is not of this world.

Eternity is pretty long, too.

This earth holds no attraction any more, except for saving souls as long as YHWH directs,

but as written "we are crucified with Christ" (already accomplished, done)
and
"the world is DEAD to us"
and
"we are dead to the world"
and
"we do not love nor desire the world nor the things of the world, "
just
as God has said.

 

[RDKirk]

When reading scripture, it sounds like it should be pretty short, and I'm not talking about the difference between the lengths of time people in the Old Testament lived compared to the NT. But a promise of long life was often made in the OT for people who lived for God and served Him well, and people would live out those years. But then in the NT, it seems that it all got reversed! Take Jesus and all His followers: Jesus was crucified just 3.5 years after starting his ministry. Then all His followers were killed not long after, either by being crucified, or stoned, or whatever other means could be found.

Why isn't long life a promise for the faithful anymore?

The OT saints had no reason to die.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Why isn't long life a promise for the faithful anymore?

Quite a number of factors, all simple,

have been shown to shorten our lives after the flood.

Many are relatively easy to prove, like pollution, (air, food, water, radiation, soil, etc)
and pharmakeia, and government(s) actions, as well as lifestyles.

Some might be less obvious...

And for a few it is DELIGHTFULLY SO - as in "if the Creator had not shortened the days for the elect's sake, no one would have survived" .....

 

[Aldebaran]

Quite a number of factors, all simple,

have been shown to shorten our lives after the flood.

Many are relatively easy to prove, like pollution, (air, food, water, radiation, soil, etc)
and pharmakeia, and government(s) actions, as well as lifestyles.

Some might be less obvious...

And for a few it is DELIGHTFULLY SO - as in "if the Creator had not shortened the days for the elect's sake, no one would have survived" .....

From the beginning of my OP:

When reading scripture, it sounds like it should be pretty short, and I'm not talking about the difference between the lengths of time people in the Old Testament lived compared to the NT.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="Aldebaran, post: 71237585, member: 251418"]But a promise of long life was often made in the OT for people who lived for God and served Him well, and people would live out those years. But then in the NT, it seems that it all got reversed![/QUOTE

 

[Aldebaran]

QUOTE="Aldebaran, post: 71237585, member: 251418"]But a promise of long life was often made in the OT for people who lived for God and served Him well, and people would live out those years. But then in the NT, it seems that it all got reversed![/QUOTE

And now read the rest of the post. What I'm asking about is how long people lived in the NT when they were serving God. Their lives were very short when they started doing that.

 

[Sam91]

My Father's Kingdom is not of this world.

Eternity is pretty long, too.

This earth holds no attraction any more, except for saving souls as long as YHWH directs,

but as written "we are crucified with Christ" (already accomplished, done)
and
"the world is DEAD to us"
and
"we are dead to the world"
and
"we do not love nor desire the world nor the things of the world, "
just
as God has said.

I echo all the quoted sentiments. This world isn't my appealing anymore. There's much joy but I am looking forward to being with my Father and Creator.

It says we are to live as aliens of this world 1 Peter 2:11 and I no longer feel a part of it. He fills me with the fruits of His Spirit Galatians 5:22 and although pleasant as that is I want to be Home one day.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What I'm asking about is how long people lived in the NT when they were serving God. Their lives were very short when they started doing that.

Correct, today too.
Many believers lives were cut off younger than 30 years old in the last 120 years
due to their faith, martyrdom , or just because of the enourmous evil on earth almost everywhere.

Not just the lives of people related to serving God, although that is totally the most important.

 

[Aldebaran]

I echo all the quoted sentiments. This world isn't my appealing anymore. There's much joy but I am looking forward to being with my Father and Creator.

It says we are to live as aliens of this world 1 Peter 2:11 and I no longer feel a part of it. He fills me with the fruits of His Spirit Galatians 5:22 and although pleasant as that is I want to be Home one day.

If we are to live totally faithful as the disciples of the NT did after Jesus's resurrection, should we expect to end up as all of them did as well? Is the fact that it doesn't end that way for the majority of us a sign that we aren't living faithfully?

 

[faroukfarouk]

It says we are to live as aliens of this world 1 Peter 2:11 and I no longer feel a part of it. He fills me with the fruits of His Spirit Galatians 5:22 and although pleasant as that is I want to be Home one day.

Well, exactly; meanwhile, we are here for as long as He keeps us here for His purposes.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Is the fact that it doesn't end that way for the majority of us a sign that we aren't living faithfully?

We are not allowed to answer this question , you know that already, right ?

It is entirely up to YHWH how long anyone's days may be, and some HE takes when they are young,
perhaps to preserve their life from things too terrible to bear otherwise in their future (as this is written in Scripture)....

And some like John get to live long days on earth, and see the mercies of YHWH in Y'SHUA , or perhaps see what is sweet in the mouth, yet turns bitter in the stomach....

 

[Sam91]

As Paul said 'To live is Christ to die is gain' Read Philippians this morning and was ruminating on that.

 

[faroukfarouk]

As Paul said 'To live is Christ to die is gain' Read Philippians this morning and was ruminating on that.

There's a song which uses those words from Philippians.

 

[Sam91]

If we are to live totally faithful as the disciples of the NT did after Jesus's resurrection, should we expect to end up as all of them did as well? Is the fact that it doesn't end that way for the majority of us a sign that we aren't living faithfully?

I have no idea. Depends what God's plans for His purpose are. If we are indeed faithful we should readily submit to that in obedience. Knowing we will be blessed with His support through anything we would endure. A lot of Christians make it to a ripe old age planting seeds into many lives.

 

[Sam91]

Well, exactly; meanwhile, we are here for as long as He keeps us here for His purposes.

Snap

 

[faroukfarouk]

I have no idea. Depends what God's plans for His purpose are. If we are indeed faithful we should readily submit to that in obedience. Knowing we will be blessed with His support through anything we would endure. A lot of Christians make it to a ripe old age planting seeds into many lives.

Every year at the beginning the truth that the Lord Jeus is Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1) comes to mind, and the logic of entirely trusting Him for time and for eternity.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Snap

I'm listening to Candy Dulfer on the saxophone in the background and it seems like thought also can run in rhythm; we seem to be having the same 'snap' thoughts! my wife and I experience this sort of thing frequently when we each anticipate each other's thoughts.

 

[Sam91]

@faroukfarouk However, when the answer is based on a question with which the obvious answer comes from the knowledge gain from scripture it isn't remarkable I guess?