Richard Hollerman
We know that age is something that we all experience! For example, we find that age is defined as: “An individual’s development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/age). We can see that age is dependent on various factors and will be determined by these factors. What are we to make of all of this?
All of the earth’s nine billion people will one day die—unless Jesus returns first (Matthew 24:42, 44). The question, of course, would be when? And how? And why?
For instance, in America, several years ago, this would be about 78 years duration. This may be calculated from the data that says that 79 is the expected life expectancy of women (on average) and 73 is the life expectancy of the man. Today, it would probably be somewhat (but not greatly) higher. And we must be aware of such factors, as location, lifestyle, nutrition, and occupations—and other such matters. The average age for smokers would be about 7 or 8 years younger than on-smokers. Today, we find about 77 years as the average life expectancy for the average person in America which is the lowest for two decades! We also discover the following interesting finding:
At the end of the study, about 16 percent of the men and about 34 percent of the women survived to the age of 90. In fact, the authors found that women who were taller than 5 feet 9 inches were 31 percent more likely to reach 90, compared to those who were under 5 feet 3 inches. Jan 23, 2019
We also find the following:
Men who did physical activity 90 minutes a day were 39 percent more likely to make it to 90, compared to those who did less than 30 minutes. And every additional 30 minutes of daily physical activity resulted in a five percent increase in their chances of turning 90.
The findings weren’t the same for women though. Ladies who got in 30-60 minutes a day were 21 percent more likely to see their 90th birthday, compared to those who just managed 30 minutes. (https://www.ajc.com/news/world/here-the-secret-living-years-old-study-says).
Some of the lifestyle factors, may be in our control, and some out of our control. We think of:
- Exercise or the amount of physical activity
- Food and nutrition
- Sleeping—the amount and nature
- Genetics
This suggests that we need to exercise more, from pre-teen years until the end! We need to eat less fat food and “junk” food. We need to sleep at least 6 hours a night but—but too long. And we need to choose our parents wisely (if that could be done). Other factors, were also important, such as where we live and what type of jobs we have had. We also have discovered that our relationships with others have a bearing on our longevity—as does our relationship with God Himself!
Now about life expectancy. Of course, as Scripture says, we don’t know what our life will be like tomorrow and we just don’t know what to expect. (See James 4:14-15 and Proverbs 27:1). We must be prepared and adjust our lives accordingly.
We find that this expectancy in the United States fell by 2.7 years in only three years, from 2019 to 2021. We have been told that this is due because of Covid-19.
Life expectancy (at birth) for men was 79.1 and for women 85.1. and now, it would be perhaps a year older.
As for the nations of the world, we find the following:
Chad—53 years
Nigeria—53 years
CAR—54 years
Somalia—56 years
Mali—57 years
Kenya—62 years
Pakistan—67 years
India—68 years
Indonesia—70 years
Guatemala—70 years
Russia—70 years
China—78 years
Norway—84 years
Spain—84 years
Japan—85 years
Although there are some differences between these nations, they don’t differ that much from one another, especially in the so-called “developed” countries. Thus, we find that the United States (78 years), Japan 85 years), Japan (85 years), and China (78 years) are not that far apart.
As for ethnicities, again we don’t find that much difference. We discover this: “Provisional data from 2021 show that overall life expectancy across all racial/ethnic groups was 76.1 years. Life expectancy for Black people was only 70.8 years compared to 76.4 years for White people and 77.7 years for Hispanic people.” (https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/report). (This would be for the United States.) Thus, the black population, at 71 years, the white people, at 77 years, and 78 years for Hispanics, are not that different from each other.
And, as usual, the reason for some of these differences are not that hard to determine. People, generally are overweight (thus decreasing their normal lifespan), they don’t eat nutritiously (thus, they eat fast food, high fat food, and too much food), they don’t have a healthy lifestyle at all. And they refuse to exercise but do live a sedentary life! Thus, we find that people either die earlier or don’t live longer. And there are differences between whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, American Indians, etc. This may depend, in part, on many different aspects, including the healthy lifestyle or lack of health.
Thus, we find that people may die at an average of 60 years, 70 years, 80 years, or 90 years, but they will die! The question then is, what happens after death? What will they experience? If one dies at age 60 without Jesus and His salvation, what will happen? We know that these people will be in pain, anguish, and will be totally without hope! Isn’t it amazing that whether the person is 60 or 90 or older, they will experience unending anguish not for one year, 1,000 years, but for all eternity! (See Matthew 25:46; etc.) How can we live with this? If one experiences pain and anguish for one day, one month, one year, 1,000 years, isn’t there a difference! Why can’t we see this now and do something about it!
We realize that many people are utterly deceived by the enemy and think that it will all end when they die! Or they somehow think that they will be like the Muslims and believe (wrongly) that they will have their good and their bad weighed—and whatever is more weighty counts. No, life is life and death is death, and eternity is lasting and will be without end!
Now is the time to decide. And now is the time to come to Christ and find His forgiveness, while there is still time! Let us find this forgiveness now, during our lifetime. Only Christ will last, thus let us find salvation now, while we may! (See John 14:6 and 11:25-26.)