Here’s Bob Dylan singing Forever Young back in 1976. I would have thought of him as an old guy back then. I was 14 in 1976. But he’s still touring. He was in Killarney here in Ireland a couple of months ago. He’s now 84.
And I’m heading to 64. In a matter of months, I won’t be able to sing “When I’m 64” anymore. And next year, I’ll sing “When I was 64″ 😄.
My thoughts on living a long life are something like the Apostle Paul’s outlook.
Philippian 1:22-24
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Now, I’m not quite as important as the Apostle Paul 😄. But I’m happy to stay as long as God wants me to stay. Death is a scary thing when you’re young. But both my parents have passed away, as have a good many of my friends from my earlier years. Death no longer feels as scary. Somehow, it just feels like another stage in life. And from a Christian perspective, heaven is where we’re meant to be.
As the old hymn says “I’ve got a home in glory land that outshines the sun”.
It’s always fascinating to consider the animal world. Mayflies generally live for a couple of days at most. Greenland sharks can live 500 years. An Antarctic sponge can live 15,000 years. And there’s a jellyfish that can live forever (at least in theory). I kinda prefer being human though. I can’t really see myself as a sponge or a jellyfish. And it might feel cold being a Greenland shark 😂.
Sometimes, I feel like I’m still 18, but since reaching 60, I’m beginning to think of myself as old. I remember Chrissie Hynde (of The Pretenders) being interviewed when she was 50. And she took comfort from the notion that “50 was the new 30”. Perhaps 60 is the new 40 😄.
I find it fascinating when I think of how people nowadays seem to be younger for longer. Think of Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard. I still can’t think of these as old men.
Perhaps what scares us most is health issues. When I hear of friends dying in their sixties, I take comfort from the fact that things might have been much worse for them if they got to be really old. But we don’t know for sure. You can have health issues at any age. I sometimes wonder why God doesn’t just bring us to heaven immediately after we believe. Well, just as Jesus proved his love for his father by doing all that was asked of him, his disciples follow his example. Down here on earth, we are called to fight the good fight. I’ve known many elderly people who have been a great inspiration to me. And I hope that I’ll be of some use if I live a long life.
If I were an atheist, I think I would be pleased to have been part of the universe. I’m not sure if I’d want to live much longer than the average lifespan of a human being. From a Christian perspective, death came into the world when Adam and Eve (representing humankind) rebelled against God. Christians have different views on whether the story of Adam and Eve should be taken literally, but even those who don’t take it literally believe that the story depicts humanity declaring independence from God. They see it as a model that God provided to show the situation in simple terms.
But when Christ came into the world, he gave us the opportunity to get back to paradise.
People fantasize about paradise, but what it represents, a perfect place, can and will be a reality. The dying thief was in paradise the very moment that he died because he put his trust in Jesus.
Luke 23:42-43
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
John 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-25
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Here are two hymns that come to mind when I contemplate my future years.
Hibernia Gospel 
God Bless You,Hibernia
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