We're Only on This Earth for a Short While

Back in 1995, The Chicago Tribune reported on the 120th celebration of Jeanne Calment of Arles, France. At the time, her verifiable age made her the oldest person in the world. She had also become quite a celebrity in France, with three books written about her life and the French Minister of Health attending her birthday party.

Medical scientists studied her life to try to discover the secret of her longevity. Was it plenty of exercise, a low-fat diet, and good clean living? Well, exercise may have played a role in her extraordinary health. She took vigorous walks each day and rode her bike through the streets of Arles until she was 100 years old. A low-fat diet was not a priority for her, however. For many years, she consumed at least two pounds of chocolate a week, and she always did her cooking with olive oil. Jeanne was also a moderate smoker, consuming an average of two or three packs a week. She finally gave up smoking when she was 117.

At age 110, Jeanne said, “I had to wait 110 years to become famous. I intend to enjoy it as long as possible.” By age 120 she was confined to a wheelchair and had a variety of physical problems. “I see badly,” Jeanne said, “I hear badly, I don’t have much feeling in my legs, but everything is fine.” When someone asked Jeanne what kind of future she expected, she replied, “A very short one.” Indeed, Jeanne Calment did die a couple of years later, at age 122.

Friends, in reality, all of us, as a song says, “are only on this earth for a short while.” Yes, 120 years is much longer than two years, but in the big picture of time they are both rather short periods. The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.4 years, with women living a bit longer than men. There are, of course, folks who live to be over 100, but there are also many individuals who die much younger. Whenever I look at the obituary page in the newspaper, I am reminded that death strikes people at a variety of ages. The bottom line, however, is that one hundred years from now it is very unlikely that anyone reading this column will still be alive. Death is a certainty. Unless the Lord Jesus returns first, none of us will get off this planet alive. As someone said, “Whether you are a king or a street sweeper, we all have to dance with the Grim Reaper.”

I would find the inevitable reality of death to be a very depressing truth if it were not for the fact that the Bible promises that those who are believers in Jesus Christ will conquer death. Because the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, those who trust in Him will one day experience a similar resurrection. That is why Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Friends, our future on this earth is indeed a rather short one. Are you ready for what comes next? As God enables, make sure you are trusting in Jesus Christ so that you can experience the eternal life He promises.