This year I reached a milestone in my life – at 70 years of age, I am retiring from my job as a software engineer, a field I’ve been in since the early 1980’s (well, semi-retired. My bosses said “We don’t want to lose you. Would you be willing to do some work part time on a consulting basis?” So I no longer work full time, and I get to choose my own hours and how much to work or not to work.)
At 70, I’m definitely a senior citizen. But I don’t feel old. My wife and I have not ceased doing any of the activities that we did when we were younger.
The passage of time will cause everybody to age. But can we retain vigor and vitality – which is what characterizes youthfulness – into advanced years?
I’m going to share a bunch of scripture concerning age, youthfulness, and long life:
Psalms 103:2-5 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalms 92:12-14 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,
MSG: They’ll grow tall in the presence of God, virile still in old age.
TPT: For in Your presence they will still overflow and be anointed. Even in their old age they will stay fresh, bearing luscious fruit and abiding faithfully.
Deuteronomy 34:7 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Proverbs 16:31 31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 20:29 29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.
Job 12:11-13 11 Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.
13 “With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.
Psalms 34:12-14 12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
John 10:10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Psalms 91:14-16 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
Proverbs 3:1-3 1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-8 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Proverbs 4:20-23 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
It’s not only important that we have a long lifespan, but also the quality of that life. Who cares if you live to be 100, but the last five years you’re confined to a wheelchair and can’t even feed yourself, or you have Alzheimer’s and don’t even recognize your own family?
In scripture, we have the examples of Moses and Caleb:
Deuteronomy 34:7 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Joshua 14:10-11 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.
Perception of Lifespan
Are we given a lifespan of only 70-80 years (Psalm 90:10)? This psalm was written by Moses. It is what he was observing during the time when they were wandering in the wilderness, the purpose of which was to kill off those who had been 20 years old and upwards at the time of the rebellion of the 10 spies. He himself lived to 120.
Or are we given 120 years?
Genesis 6:3 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
Kenneth Copeland is aiming at 120 years. I believe this is going to be like the 4 minute mile: people thought it was impossible, until someone did it. After that, many people have run a mile in under 4 minutes.
Copeland is doing what he needs to, to stay healthy – he has a very strict regimen of diet and exercise. In his late 80’s, his ministry still going strong.
As of 2024, there are an estimated 722,000 centenarians (people aged 100 and older) worldwide, according to United Nations population projections
Here are a few highlights:
- Japan has the highest number of centenarians, with approximately 146,000.
- The United States follows with about 108,000, making it the second-largest centenarian population globally.
- The global centenarian population is expected to continue growing as life expectancy increases and healthcare improves.
Keep Moving
Perceptions of Aging and Health
Research highlighted by the American Psychological Association shows that internalized ageism—negative beliefs about aging—can negatively affect physical and mental health. Conversely, individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging tend to live longer and experience better health outcomes. This suggests that how we view aging itself can influence our biological aging process
A 2022 study funded by the National Institute on Aging found that optimism is significantly associated with longer lifespans across racially and ethnically diverse groups of women. The most optimistic women lived, on average, 4.4 years longer than the least optimistic. Interestingly, only about 25% of this longevity benefit could be explained by healthier behaviors like diet and exercise, suggesting that psychological factors play a direct role
Purpose
One of the major influences on a person’s longevity, and the quality of life they have as they age, is whether they retain a sense of purpose for their life. Do they feel they have a reason to keep on living?
Having identity dependent on temporal things – a job, a family relationship – can greatly suffer when those things go away. A spouse dies. The kids grow up (but you can still look forward to grandchildren!). You retire from a job.
Your brain will actively work on the goals you set it to. If you have no purpose, no goals, you don’t give your brain a reason why you should keep on living, it can conclude that it is time to shut down.
My Father in law broke a hip at 94. He decided he had enough and did not want to go through surgery to correct it or be confined to a wheelchair. He made a decision to die, and was gone within a week.
An Appointed Time to Die?
Is there a set, predetermined time that we are going to die? People quote this verse to say that there is.
Hebrews 9:27 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
But that’s not what it says. It does not say that there is an appointed time for man to die, but that it is appointed that men shall die once, and afterwards face a judgment for the life they lived.
This is a refutation of the concept of reincarnation – that a person lives multiple lives, coming back over and over again, supposedly getting “better” each time until they reach a state of perfection.
Deciding when it’s time to go.
Paul, even under adverse circumstances (prison) decides it’s not yet time to for him to go:
Philippians 1:19-25 19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
When he had finished his purpose, and it was time to go:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The ideal is living a life until you are satisfied, that you have accomplished your purpose. You are still strong. You and the Lord decide it’s time to go home. You call your family together and meet with them, say goodbye – maybe prophesy over them like Jacob did. Then afterwards, you just go to sleep.