Hi Lynn,

That is true. In fact, as I get older, I become increasingly aware that youth is passing and I too will oneday (unless I'm taken early) experience old age. I see myself gradually ageing too and nobody likes it, but it's unfortunately part of us wearing out....I believe personally that it is also a way of us ridding ourselves of youthful vanity and hopefully becoming more aware of our journey towards the grave (and to the next life).

If we did not have this inflicted upon us....would we really wake up? Age is a great leveller and it certainly takes care of alot of superficiality and vanity. I now look at old people in a much different light and see them as myself oneday. Just as they were once young. Yet in my youth, I never so much considered this at all.

I see God is in control of time, of the ageing process, of everything. I have no doubts about the bible and the fact man/woman were created to live forever, NOT age or die. God's intention was good, but our sin is what brought death upon us, via sickness, accident, or gradual through ageing. We know they lived for great ages, even after the fall, but as sin continued and grew at an ever increasingly rate, so God, in keeping with that sin, reduced our long life spans more and more.

Yet the bible also seems to predict that this too will be turned around and we will once again, live to very long ages. No surprise there. If the world itself is cleansed/renewed (which it will be), so too will human beings and a different world/atmosphere will of course make a huge difference to life spans. I think it's Issaiah 65 that talks about this and how at that time, the youth will be of 100 years of age. The days of people will be like the days of a tree (hundreds of years). It always seems unbelieveable when it's something that we have not experienced or observed and so often one can be quick to proclaim as a "myth" or "wishful thinking".

This "renewal" does not seem to refer to the end (last resurrection where Heaven and earth are joined and people will be like angels and live forever and will no longer marry or have children). But rather an intermediate time (renewal) that we have long been awaiting. A time where Christ will reign in the hearts of all people, a cleansed earth and a cleansed mankind and it would seem an extended life span. It also mentions that people will still be having children during that time! When is this era? I hope it is soon. Signs are certainly pointing to the time of renewal. Unfortunately due to mankind's increasing sin and indifference towards God, it would seem the transition to this intermediate era is going to be increasingly painful and one wonders when Christ returns, will He find faith on earth?