Longevity

Sometimes I get the impression that because lifespans in the Bible are longer than ours, often by A LOT, skeptics think the Bible is fictional and unrealistic.  Although I'm not God, I do know that "all scripture is God-breathed and is useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16. 

So is it true that the first man ever created (Adam) lived to be 950? Absolutely.  Was the oldest man (Methusala) 969? Yes.  Why? Well when you consider that God actually created man to live forever, 969 actually seems quite short.  But when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil they sinned against God.  From that moment on not only do "all sin and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 6:23, but "the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23. 

Before the flood people lived longer, but after the flood lifespans shortened exponentially.  When sin got so bad that only Noah and his family were God-fearing, the gene pool became very small with only 8 people alive after the flood.  Geneticists suggest that the gene for longevity was lost at that time.  Also, it's suggested that the earth's environment changed after the flood possibly causing a harder life and a shorter lifespan.  

The bottom line is we all die.  But if you accept Jesus Christ as God's Son who came to live as an example for us and died for our sins so that we may be forgiven and received as righteous in the eyes of God the Father, you may die physically, but not spiritually.  Your spirit will go on to live forever with God...now that's longevity!