So, if we are honest, we must admit and understand the our life expectancy in this world is eighty, maybe ninety and in rare cases one hundred years (God has limited man’s years to 120 [Gen. 6:3]). And eternity, life after life in this world is forever, no ending, on and on, eons upon eons. And if we take God’s Word seriously, then we understand that eternity is forever and there is not movement from heaven to hell or from hell to heaven following the day of judgement. We also understand that the judgement that will befall us is determined by our faith or non-faith in Jesus, faith or non-faith which shows itself in one’s life.
With the above understanding and presuppositions, why is it that we think we are more caring when we care about a person’s temporary physical well being and we are accused of all sorts of malevolence, malice and meanness when we show care for their eternal well-being? Let me explain. When a friend has a drinking or drug problem, we believe it is okay to point out this problem and work to help our friend to beat the problem. Yet, when our friend puts their soul in eternal peril, by such public sins as living together without the benefit of marriage, living any lifestyle contrary to the Word of God, such as a homosexual lifestyle, or by outright despising the Word of God by not only rejecting the gifts God gives by not being in Divine Service and Bible class regularly (every time it is offered) and even speaks out against the pastor and the congregation, we think, “How dare you.”
What most people fail to realize concerning spiritual sins is the fact that even though Jesus paid the price for all sins, we reject that forgiveness when we fail to confess, to repent of our sins and when we fail to strive with God’s help to not commit such sins again. So, when I am living with someone without the benefit of marriage, not only am I sinning, but I am rejecting forgiveness by not confessing that I am doing wrong. But, what if I do confess? When we confess we live that confession by changing our lives, by striving with God’s help to not continue to do the same sin. So, if I confess and then continue blatantly to live in that sin I am truly not confessing. To live in one’s sin, denying forgiveness puts one’s soul in eternal peril, because to die refusing and rejecting the gifts God gives is the sin against the Holy Spirit. And this principle may be applied to any public or private sin in which one refuses to confess and/or, with God’s help, change one’s way.
So, again, why are we perceived and less loving when we care for one’s eternal well-being over one’s physical, earthly well-being? Maybe it is time we start rethinking our attitudes toward others that love us by calling us to account for our spiritual well-being.
I have heard it argued that Genesis 6:3 is more likely referring to the number of years until the flood, rather than an age limit put on man's life span. The reasons being this makes more sense based on the biblical timeline, and because life spans gradually lessened after the flood rather than abruptly changing, and because most men's years tend to be 70-80(now and as listed in Psalm 90:10 for example) which doesn't seem to go with the 120 years stated in Genesis. What is your take on this?
ReplyDeleteThat is the first time I have heard this explanation. So, since, if I read my ages correctly, it was less than 100 years between the time God limited man's age and the time of the flood, I would think it is as the literal sense states, especially since no one in the world today lives past 120. By the way, if you want to ask questions, I more often check my e-mail than my blog comments (bogshome@juno.com). Blessings.
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