Live a long life!

"I will not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD." - Psalm 118:17

Did you know that God desires to see us live a long good life? Many today believe that when a person dies, it was God's timing for them to die and that the fullness of their days have been lived out according to God's will. However, according to the Bible, God's will isn't always manifested here on earth as God desires it, and there is no guarantee that we will live out the fullness of our days.

Yes, I believe that God has appointed our days, and has a plan for our lives, but my question is, are we fulfilling those years? Are we living to our full potential? Consider these passages that we are given in God's Word, which speak of extending our lifespan:

Yes, we can die before our time!

Let me ask you this, when a person has an abortion, is that God's appointed time for that baby to die? When somebody commits suicide, is that God's appointed time for them to die? When somebody gets drunk, and kills an entire family, was that God's appointed time for them to die? Is it Biblical to "die before your time"? YES!

To say that we cannot die before our time, would justify murder and abortion. Somebody who has committed murder would not be guilty of sin, because they were merely cooperating with God's plan to take the person home. But murder is a serious sin, because it takes a person's life before it is their time to die.

Just as it is never God's will for a woman to be raped, or a child to be molested, it is also not necessarily God's will for a person to die before their time. Not everything that happens here on earth is the will of God. If everything that happened here on earth was God's will, then that would make God out to be a terrible father... desiring to see His children raped, murdered, molested, and tortured. Such things are in complete opposition to the nature of our loving Father.

Is it Biblical to "fullfill their days"? Yes!


In the NT, we learn that there are many people who get sick and die before their time, because of unworthily partaking in communion:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [or have died].

1 Corinthians 11:24-30

I wonder how many people blame a person's sickness or death on this above passage? Yet God's Word tells us that MANY have fallen into this trap. If many back then fell into it, what percentage of today's sicknesses and deaths also fall into this category?

Can a person's sin and disobedience to God shorten their life? Yes! Untimely death is listed under the curses that we find in Deuteronomy 28:

The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.... Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 28:21,61-62

I have never seen God's Word speak of Him using sickness or disease to call a righteous person home, but we do see just the opposite unfold in the above scripture, where sickness unto death is a curse. What is God's desire for those who fear Him and walk in His ways? A long and good life!

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Ephesians 6:2-3

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Psalms 91:16

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Proverbs 3:13-16

I also believe that eating habits and exercise will also affect our body's ability to live a long and healthy life. The verse above speaks of wisdom lengthening our days, and I believe one area of our lives that we are supposed to exercise wisdom is in taking proper care of our bodies. If this were not true, then we could eat cream puffs and ice cream every day of our lives, and never exercise, and still live to a ripe old age. Or, we could take this to another extreme, and have the person not eat at all. Will they live a long good life if they fail to eat? Will they live out the fullness of their God-given days if they fail to feed their body with proper nutrition. I doubt it, don't you? If our bodies cannot live without food, then I believe we can also cut our lifespan short by not taking care of our bodies with proper care and nourishment. Furthermore, what about those in other countries that rarely live beyond 30 years old? Does God somehow appoint their days much shorter than ours here in the USA, where we are able to take care of our bodies physically by eating nutritious food and drinking clean sanitary water? Or are God's plans for them are severely limited compared to ours?

In Jeremiah, we find a passage which tells us that God has good plans for us, and wants to give us an expected end. An expected end is nothing less than a long good life. Dying of cancer, or in a car accident, is not an expected end, it is rather an unexpected end. This is not God's will for us.

Lot's wife is a good example of somebody in the Bible who who died due to disobedience; she never lived out the fullness of her days. It was not God's will for her to die at that time, but her death was the result of her disobedience towards God.

Another source of pre-mature death is a result of Satan's work of killing, stealing, and destroying that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." When somebody is killed, it refers to the taking of a life prematurely (otherwise, murder would be justified in God's eyes, would it not?). God does not use Satan to kill His children, as a means to keep them from living beyond their appointed time. Jesus made it very clear who was behind the killing, and who had came to give life. By stating that every murder came at God's appointed time for that person to die, is to equate Jesus with the killing side of the equation of John 10:10. It is saying that God uses Satan's work in our lives to bring about His will, timing, and plans for us. If this were true of murder, then the same could be said of rape, stealing, etc. Suddenly, we find ourselves in a mindset that everything which happens here on earth is the will of God, which couldn't be further from the truth.

There is one passage in scripture (see Job 7:1, 14:5, 14) that is used to support the concept that the days of our lives are appointed in such a way that we are not capable of dying before the fullness of our days have been lived out. However, when Job said that the days of our life are appointed, he also said other things during his foolish rant with God that I believe were merely Job's human understanding, and not divine revelation from the Holy Spirit. For example, in Job 6:4, he was basically saying that God's poisonous arrows and the terrors of the Almighty was upon him, when that was simply not the case at all. There were things Job said which were mere human wisdom being spoke of in a time of desperation and lack of understanding.

To say that we cannot die before our appointed time, is saying that God uses murder, abortion, suicide, sicknesses resulting in death, demonic killings, unhealthy care of our bodies, drunkeness (resulting in deadly car accidents), and so forth, to fulfill His purposes in a person's life. It is saying, for example, that God appointed Billy to die on the day that he committed suicide or got drunk and drove into a phone pole. It is claiming that God appointed Billy to die at that time and that God's "good plans and expected end" for Billy was for him to commit suicide.

Finally, just because God wills something, does not mean it always happens. He desires all to be saved, and that none shall perish, and Jesus made all the provisions for all to be saved, but are all saved? No, not at all. God also wills that we live long good lives, but just because that is His desire, does not mean that it will always come to past.

"But God used Lazarus' sickness unto death for God's glory!"

True, but what was the end of the story? God took no glory in Lazarus' death, but rather in seeing a dead body raised to life before their very eyes! Therefore, when Aunt so-and-so dies of cancer, I need to see that body raised from the dead before the story of Lazarus can be used to justify her sickness unto death. Did Aunt so-and-so get raised from the dead? Or did her body go to rot in the grave? Then don't use Lazarus' story to justify God using cancer to take the lives of His people. I see this sort of nonsense all the time in today's church, and it is completely mocking God's Word and the nature of our loving heavenly Father. Cancer is almost always the result of a spiritual bondage, and demonic activity in a person's life.

Cancer is one of the devil's ways of killing, stealing, and destroying (see John 10:10). I have heard of X-rays of cancer showing up as strange demonic faces, and one doctor said that it was completely normal (as in, he sees it all the time). I talked with one Christian doctor, and he said that I had a good point about cancer being demonically rooted, because the medical community is clueless as to what the root cause really is. Let me ask you this: if Jesus told us that Satan came to kill, how does Satan go about doing that? Think about this, we don't see demons with clubs beating people to death, but we do see people dying like flies from cancer. Does God use Satan to kill people as His way of "calling them home"? I believe that Jesus was telling us in John 10:10 that Satan's intent to kill refers to taking a life pre-maturely. Abortion is another one of Satan's ways of pre-maturely taking a person's life. Would we dare say that God was using that to call His children home? We wouldn't think of it! God's Word tells us that He has plans for us, plans to give us a hope and a future, and an expected end (see Jeremiah 29:11). Cancer is not an expected end. Abortion is not an expected end. An expected end is when a person has lived out the fullness of their days that God has given them to live.

Are the good plans spoken of in Jeremiah 29:11 coming to past in everybody's life? Then what makes us think that the expected end part of that passage naturally comes true in everybody's life? It doesn't! Those are PLANS that God has for us, but just like the plan of salvation, we must play a vital part in seeing those plans fulfilled in our lives. Satan, of course, has plans to end our lives prematurely. Jesus told us in John 10:10 that the thief came to kill, steal, and destroy.

What about persecution?

Jesus did tell us that if we follow Him, we're going to be hated, persecuted, and even killed for His name sake. The world hated Him, and they will hate us too. Yes, some of us will be hated to the point of being killed for the sake of the gospel.

None the less, it is never God's will or desire to see His children persecuted or killed for His sake. That would be like a father telling his children to go get beat up to prove their love for him, and then enjoying seeing them be beaten and killed. That is just not the nature of our heavenly Father!

God won't sacrifice the lives of some of His precious children in order to reach a lost and hurting world because Jesus already paid the price in full. God gave us authority over the devil. He granted us all grace to resist the devil and defeat him by pleading the blood. Jesus has shed His blood and made it available for every believer to use. Our mouths play the same role as the bunch of hyssop the Israelites used. We are to use our mouths to apply the blood. Knowing about the blood is not sufficient, speaking about the power of the blood is also necessary.

On the other hand, if the believer didn't use this power to rebuke the devil, God will use the situation to reach the lost and will reveal his presence to the believer long enough before he dies and console and comfort him and fill him with love through unspeakable revelations that are beyond his imagination. Just the amazing presence of the lord can invade the mind and the spirit so that the believer will no longer care of what will be/has been done to him during the suffering period because he would be in a higher level of consciousness that goes beyond anything physical. There is unexpressed supernatural consolation and inner peace that is given to the believer in this very situation.

Live Long!

The Bible has a lot to say about God's will concerning our life here on the earth—how we are to live and for how long. God has a good, long life planned for us. But without that revelation, when we reach 60 or 70, we may start winding down and getting ready to go. 

God never meant for us to die young. It's His will for us to live out the full number of our days. Traditionally, Psalm 90:10 has been quoted in regard to man's life expectancy. It says: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten (seventy years)—or even, if by reason of strength, fourscore years (eighty years)..." (The Amplified Bible). But what most people don't realize is that reading this verse alone is taking it out of context. A footnote to Psalm 90 in The Amplified Bible explains:

This psalm is credited to Moses, who is interceding with God to remove the curse which made it necessary for every Israelite over twenty years of age (when they rebelled against God at Kadesh-barnea) to die before reaching the promised land (Num. 14:26-35). Moses says most of them are dying at seventy years of age. This number has often been mistaken as a set span of life for all mankind. It was not intended to refer to anyone except those Israelites under the curse during that particular forty years. Seventy years never has been the average span of life for humanity. When Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes, had reached 130 years (Gen. 47:9), he complained that he had not attained to the years of his immediate ancestors. In fact, Moses himself lived to be 120 years old, Aaron 123, Miriam several years older, and Joshua 110 years of age. Note as well that in the Millennium a person dying at 100 will still be thought a child (Isa. 65:20).

Here we learn that the Israelites who died at 70 were living under the curse caused by disobedience. According to Galatians 3:13, Jesus has redeemed us from the curse being made a curse for us. If we have made Jesus our Lord, freedom from all the conditions the curse causes belongs to us—that includes sickness, destruction and early death. 

So don't have the mindset that you should only live to be 70. What God actually said about man's lifespan is found in Genesis 6:3: "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." 

Think about it. That means at 60 you are just middle-aged. That's not the time to start slowing down. Instead stand on this scripture and others like Psalm 103:2-5: "Bless the Lord...who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction...who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." Be determined to enjoy to the fullest the many productive years the Lord has promised you.

Live Long...by the Book 

Like every other blessing, there are conditions to living a long life. Psalm 91 is a picture of the person who receives this blessing.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

The person this is talking about loves God and stays connected to Him. He doesn't fear, but trusts the Lord to be his refuge and says so. The truth of God's Word is his shield and buckler. He dwells or abides under the shadow of the Almighty in obedience, and God shows him His salvation. The word salvation means "material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension, preservation, pardon, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness." 

God will satisfy you with good things, including healing, protection and long life when you are living and abiding in Him.

Keep Doing God's Will 

For years I heard Kenneth Hagin say you ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you're not satisfied, live awhile longer. He proved that to be true. He passed 80 and just kept going until he finished his work. 

A commentary on Psalm 90 in the Tehillim says until Moses reached 80, like other men he was growing weaker. But look what happened to him then. "When he reached the age of eighty, Moses received an extraordinary infusion of youthful energy and vitality, because at that time he was chosen to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt, to receive the Torah, and to lead the Jews to the Promised Land. This Divine mission so invigorated him that his health and strength remained undiminished until the moment of his death." 

Deuteronomy 34:7 says, "And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." 

Just as He did with Moses, God can give you a new assignment at any time. So if you have noticed that you've been slowing down because you're getting a little older, double up on the Word. Let the Word be made spirit and life to you (John 6:63). And get involved with what God is doing. That's the best way to live a long, productive life. 

Acts 1:1-2 in the New Living Translation says, "Jesus began to do and teach until the day he ascended..." That's my plan too—to do and teach until I ascend! I encourage you to do the same. Live long and live strong-stay well and stay here as long as God has something worthwhile for you to do.

You Don't Have to Be Sick 

One woman wrote to us and asked, "If I keep getting healed, how am I ever going to die?" The best way for your body to die is for your spirit to just leave. You don't have to be evicted—forced out by sickness, disease or accident. God can call you out and say, Come home. Come on up here. You can simply pass over from this side to the other side—from earth to heaven. I get excited just thinking about it. Glory to God! 

You don't ever have to be sick. God's best is for you to live in divine health every day, but He is also eager to heal. John G. Lake said, "Divine healing is the removal by the power of God of the disease that has come upon the body. But divine health is to live day by day, hour by hour in touch with God so that the life of God flows into the body just as the life of God flows into the mind or flows into the spirit." 

You live in divine health by staying in continual contact with the Word of God and the Spirit of God. In fact, the way to be free in every area of life is to attach yourself to God. 

It's your responsibility to stay well and whole. You do that with the Word of God and by resisting the devil. Go to the Bible and find out the truth. Realize that healing belongs to you and stand in faith for it. Rebuke symptoms when they try to come. Say, "No, you're not coming here, in the Name of Jesus. I'm healed by the stripes of Jesus." 

When the devil tries to crowd your mind with dark thoughts about your life being cut short, rebuke them. Replace those thoughts with the promises of God. Speak the Word out loud in faith. Remember Psalm 91 says the person who makes the Lord his refuge, the one who receives protection and deliverance, has to say so.

Obey Natural and Spiritual Laws 

God didn't make your physical body to fail. He made your physical body to sustain itself when given the right food and the right conditions. He created your body to stay well and live to be of old age. 

And if that's your goal, you'll need to determine that. Regardless of what ailments your relatives have had, they don't need to affect you. Don't look at your family history. You are born of God. Now you're part of His family. You can take the Word of God and stop any unwanted, hereditary tendencies in your life. 

Now, that doesn't mean you can eat unhealthy foods all the time and expect to live healed and live long. Most sickness is self-induced by living wrong and eating wrong. There are natural and spiritual laws by which we are to live. It's our responsibility to eat the right kind of food, exercise, rest—to make choices that will help us stay healthy. 

God expects us to obey Him. Scripture tells us over and over to hearken to God's voice and His Word. Proverbs 4:20-22 says, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." The margin of my Bible indicates the word health can be translated as "medicine." God's Word is medicine to your flesh. Not only that, this medicine affects everything in your life. It will cause your faith to rise up and receive. 

Get into the Word—it's essential to your life and health. Spend time there and find out what God is telling you to do. If He instructs you to make changes, know that they will always be for your benefit. Psalm 25:12-13 in The Living Bible says, "Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best. He shall live within God's circle of blessing...." 

When you are obedient to walk in His ways, God surrounds you with blessings— healing, protection, favor, whatever you need.

Guard Your Heart 

If symptoms linger, if our healing doesn't readily manifest, we start checking to see if we are walking in love and obeying God. We ask ourselves if we are spending enough time in the Word of God for it to be made life and health to our flesh. 

Proverbs 4:23 in The Amplified Bible warns, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." You "keep" your heart by keeping it full of the Word of God. That's the most important thing you have to do in this life. You can't live in divine health and keep your faith up without a steady diet of the life force of God, which is the Word of God. 

The wisdom of God is written down for us in His Word. Revelation of the Word is precious because it takes care of everything in our life. It causes health and healing to come. It brings happiness, joy and peace—nothing missing, nothing broken. Walking in God's wisdom is a key to living long and living well. Proverbs 3:13-18 says: 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

By spending time in the Word of God we can have so much life flowing out of us that sickness and disease can't even get close to us. 

Jesus teaches us that our commandment is to walk in love. We are to love God with all our heart and to love each other. You can't live long and strong and be in strife, unforgiveness or other disobedience. When that happens the life flow is hindered. Disobedience also comes in the form of wrong words, traditions of men, anger, bitterness, grief, fear, envy and jealousy. All disobedience opens the door to the enemy and stops the life flow. These things can adversely affect our health and our ability to receive from God. 

Disobedience opens the door to the effects of the curse in our lives, but obedience releases the blessings of God. 

I'm convinced it would be possible to live to be 120 years old by obeying the Word of God. If you ate the way God said to eat and abstained from what He said to abstain from, you'd be well on your way to a strong, healthy body. Add to that a steady diet of the Word of God, allowing the life force of the Word to continually quicken (make alive) your mortal flesh. Then if you were faithful to obey the Word of God in every area of life, I believe you could live an active, productive life of 120 years or more. 

When you walk with God, you can walk healed and live long. "And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee...the number of thy days I will fulfil" (Exodus 23:25-26).

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God’s Promises for Long-Life

He is our life and the length of our days, and so by drawing close to Him, we draw close to the Source of our life. By LOVING Him and CLINGING to Him in faith, we will draw upon His life, which will lengthen our days. As we trust Him and His promises of life, He is able to impart that life to us.

Psalm 84:11,12: “For the LORD God is a sun(radiating health to us) and a shield(protecting us from sickness); the LORD will give grace and glory. No good thing (includinglong-life) will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”

Psalm 103:2-5: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
God’s benefits include forgiveness from all sins, healing from all diseases, deliverance from destruction (early death) and the renewal of our youth (long-life). We are to remember (‘forget not’) all these benefits promised in the Word, by acknowledging them and thanking God for them. Thus we are to take God’s promises of healing and long-life upon our lips and thank God for these promised blessings, saying: “Thank You, Lord for forgiving all my sins, for healing all my sicknesses and for renewing my youth like the eagle.”

Proverbs 3:1,2: "My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commands, for length of days and long life, and peace, shall they add to you." This speaks of both quality and quantity of life. Peace (Shalom) describes good, fruitful days of blessing and wholeness. Length of days and long-life speaks of many days. So this tells us that God wants us to have a full, satisfying and long life, which is possible if we will pay attention to His Word.

Proverbs 3:13-18: “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a TREE OF LIFE to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.”
God’s WISDOM is found in His Word. Here God is motivating us to seek and find His wisdom by promising us that if we find her, and take hold of her and keep her, she will bring life and length of days to us. So again we see His will for us is LONG-LIFE.

Proverbs 4:10: "My son, receive My sayings; and (as a result) the years of your life shall be many." God wants us to have many years of life, through receiving His Word.

Proverbs 9:10,11: "The fear of the LORD(respect and reverence for His authority) is the beginning of wisdom: and knowledge of the Holy is understanding. For by me

(wisdom) your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life increased." God wants you to lengthen your life by receiving His wisdom, which will begin to happen when you humble yourself before God and His Word.

Proverbs 10:27: "The fear of the LORDprolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Sin will always bring death, but God wants you to prolong your days.

1Kings 3:14: "If you walk in My ways, and keep My commandments ... then I will lengthen your days."Here God said to Solomon, as He says to us: “if you walk in My ways, I will lengthen your days.”God wants us to live long and gives us the promise of long-life, but it is conditional on us walking with Him. If we walk close to the Source of Life, His Life will rub off on us.

Exodus 20:12: “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”This is so important, that God made this one of the 10 Commandments that He wrote with His own Finger in stone! It is the first Commandment with a promise. He promises us that if we respect and honour our parents our days will be long upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 5:16: “Honour your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” 40 years later God repeated and enhanced the promise of Exodus 20:12 of long-life. Now He promises both quantity and quality of life. Not only will our days on earth be long (many days), but they will also be good days (“it will be well with you”).

Psalm 34:12,13: “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Here God encourages our desire to see many good days, by giving us a major key to attaining this: keeping our tongue from speaking evil. He promises that if we will guard our tongue we will enjoy a long life and see many good days.

My favourite is from Psalm 91 which is full of promises of how God will preserve and protect our life if we will trust in Him. It concludes with God speaking directly in v14-16:

"Because he has set his love on Me, I will deliver him: I will set him on high, for he has known My name. He will call on me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM, and show (manifest to) him My salvation(preservation from death)."

In Psalm 91:16, God’s promise for the man who lives in the secret place of the Almighty, under the shadow of His wings: “With LONG LIFE will I SATISFY him.” To 'SATISFY' means ' to be full' as in after a good meal. God wants us to be satisfied, for us to go through a full life-cycle and for it not to be cut short. "I give them life, long and full, and show them how I can save"(Jerusalem Bible) That is what God wants to do for us. His best will for us is to be satisfied, so if we are not satisfied with 70 years, then we can go on to 80, 90,100 even 120 until we are satisfied!

Long-life means MANY DAYS, and the fact that we will be SATISFIED with them means that they will also be GOOD DAYS, where we maintain our basic health and soundness of mind. So this is a promise of both quantity and quality of life.
Of course we cannot live forever in this mortal body, but
we can live a life full of days, rather than it being cut short.

The story of KENNETH HAGIN is very instructive to us. He was healed as 17 year old from a terminal blood disease and paralysis by acting on Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask (including healing), when you pray believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Having been bed-bound for some time, after receiving his healing he was now able to get up and go to breakfast. However naturally he was still weak, so after breakfast he went back to his room to rest, and soon afterwards he heard a deep supernatural audible voice come to his mind saying:

"What is your life. It is even a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes"(James 4:14). "You have been healed but everyone is appointed once to die (Hebrews 9:27) and today your appointed time has come. You shall surely die and not live"(Isaiah 38:1).

He thought it must be God speaking and quoting scripture! So, he sat down waiting for death. (Something supernatural is not necessarily God. The devil can quote scripture, but it will be twisted and taken out of context and misapplied).

Then, inside, from his spirit, came bubbling up the words: "With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation." He did not even know that was in the Bible.

Then other voice reasserted itself saying the same thing. Then again come bubbling up on the inside: "With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation."

Then he heard the deep voice for a third time. And for a third time he heard the inner voice say: "With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation." Then he said: "Who said that?" The inner voice said: "The 91st Psalm"He looked it up and read: "with LOOOOONG life will I satisfy him." He thought: “well, I am only 17, I am not satisfied yet. The Bible promises I will be satisfied with a long life.” But the other voice came back saying:

"Yes, but that promise was for the Jews, not for the Church. It was an Old Testament blessing."

So he decided to check all the cross references to see if this promise is repeated in the New Testament for then we could be sure that it applies to us. He soon found Ephesians 6:2,3:"Honour your father and mother (the first commandment with promise): That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth" (quoting from Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16). Clearly this promise is in the New Testament and so it still applies to us today.

He also found 1Peter 3:9,10 in the New Testament:
"You are called to inherit a blessing. For he who desires life, and loves to see MANY GOOD DAYS, let him refrain his tongue from evil" (from Psalm 34:12-16). We (in the New Covenant) are called to inherit a blessing. What blessing? The blessing of MANY GOOD DAYS!

He also realised that God does not change and that we now we have a New and better Covenant than the Old-Covenant that Israel were under. Hebrews 8:6: “He (Jesus) is also the Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises.” So if the promise of long life was in the Old-Covenant then surely it applies to us also now, otherwise the New Covenant would be an inferior to the Old Covenant.

Realising this, Kenneth Hagin knew the first voice was satan impersonating God, trying to make him give up and passively accepting sickness and death as God’s will. So he stood up and declared out loud: "Devil - I'm not going to die today, I'm not going to die tomorrow, I'm not going to die next week, I'm not going to die next year, I'm not going to die in 5 years, I'm not going to die in 10 years, I'm not going to die in 20 years, I'm not going to die in 30, 40, or even 50 years. I will be satisfied with a long life.” And it cameto pass that he did live a long and fruitful life before going on to be with the Lord. Likewise we need to establish our faith NOW in God's promises of long-life, as this 17 year old did.

So the promises of long-life are not just in the Old Testament, but they are reaffirmed in the New Testament:

Ephesians 6:2,3: "Honour your father and mother (the first commandment with promise): That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." Again God makes it clear that He wants us to have long life with many good days, but this requires us to honour our parents.

1Peter 3:9,10: "You are called to inherit a blessing.
What blessing are we called to inherit? If you read on,
you will see it is the blessing of a long and good life:
For he who desires life, and loves to see many good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil" (from Psalm 34:12-16)

In John 10:10, Jesus said that although satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus has come to give us abundant LIFE, which includes long life on earth and eternal life in heaven.

2Corinthians 1:20: “All the promises of God(including LONG-LIFE) in Him (Christ) are ‘Yes’, and in Him (we say the) ‘Amen’, to the glory (manifestation) of God through us (our faith).” Through the blood of Jesus, God confirms to us that every promise is ours in Christ. But we must know and receive (embrace) the promise for ourselves, adding our ‘Amen’, by confessing the promise as true for us.Then it will surely come to pass to glory of God through us.

LONG LIFE is God’s will for us. God has promised it to us in the New-Covenant in Christ. So let us believe and receive these promises now and establish our faith in God now for a long and blessed life. We need to know these promises so well that no one could ever talk us out of believing them.

We have seen that an abundant and long-life is God’s Will for us (John 10:10), so much so that Jesus took the curse of an early death for us so that we could have the blessing of a long and full life (Galatians 3:13,14)! Therefore, if we seek to fulfil God’s will and best for our life, we need to believe and pray for His will to be done in our life, which includes living a long-life. As we trust God daily for His abundant life to sustain us in good health, soundness of mind and strength of body throughout a long and full life, we will glorify God and be a witness to His loving care and renewing power. Thus others will be drawn to Him through us.

First of all, let us look at some of these precious Promises
-to build our faith that God’s will is for us to have a long life. Knowing God's will is the foundation for our faith. We need to establish our faith on God's promises of healing and long life NOW. Don't wait until your body is threatened before you start receiving these promises. Build up your health and immunity to sickness now by meditating on these promises.

We need to build up our faith for health and long-life now by knowing, believing and speaking out these promises. By faith we need to lay hold of God's provision of LIFE and HEALING for our body daily, for Jesus said that:“Healing is the children’s bread” (Matthew 15:26) and that every day we should pray:“Give us this day our daily bread (our daily healing)” (Matthew 6:11). This way we will be training ourselves so that we will be able to lay hold of God's life and healing when we really need it, and that we will be able to resist sickness and death when it comes against us.

There are many promises in the Bible that show that God's will for us is to have a long and full life. God gives us these promises, so that our faith is built up to receive this blessing from Him. He also tells us what we need to do in our life in order for these promises to be fulfilled.

Let us look at some of these precious Promises:

In Exodus 23:25,26, God reveals His will for us:"You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will BLESS your bread and water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you, and the (full) number of your days I will fulfil." His will is to BLESS and His blessing is health and long-life. God wants us to have a full life, rather than it being cut short.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21: “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that YOUR DAYS and the days of your children may be MULTIPLIED in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the DAYS OF HEAVEN ON EARTH.” We see that God’s best for His people is both quantity and quality of life. He wants to multiply our days in the earth and make them like days of heaven on earth (days of love, joy and peace).

Clearly it must be God’s will for us to have long-life! Deuteronomy 30:19,20: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you LIFE and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose LIFE, that both you and your descendants may LIVE; that you may LOVE the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may CLING to Him, for HE IS YOUR LIFE and the LENGTH of YOUR DAYS.”

God wants us to choose LIFE and He makes that LIFE available to us, so that we can have it, if we make the right decision to choose LIFE (v19). This offer of LIFE clearly includes LENGTH OF DAYS (v20), so this proves that LONG LIFE is His will for us. He also tells us how to make the right choice and receive the long-life that He offers.

Christ Will Not Break the Bruised Reed 5

MISTREATING THE HEIRS OF MERCY

Again, considering this gracious nature in Christ, let us think with ourselves thus: when he is so kind to us, shall we be cruel against him in his name, in his truth, in his children? How shall those that delight to be so terrible to `the meek of the earth' (Zeph. 2:3) hope to look so gracious a Saviour in the face? They that are so boisterous towards his spouse shall know one day that they had to deal with himself in his church. So it cannot but cut the heart of those that have felt this love of Christ to hear him wounded who is the life of their lives and the soul of their souls. This makes those that have felt mercy weep over Christ whom they have pierced with their sins. There cannot but be a mutual and quick sympathy between the head and the members. When we are tempted to any sin, if we will not pity ourselves, yet we should spare Christ, in not putting him to new torments. The apostle could not find out a more heart breaking argument to enforce a sacrifice of ourselves to God than to appeal to us `by the mercies of God' in Christ (Rom. 12:1).

STRIFE AMONG THE HEIRS OF MERCY

This mercy of Christ should also move us to commiserate the state of the poor church, torn by enemies without, and rending itself by divisions at home. It cannot but affect any soul that ever felt comfort from Christ to consider what an affectionate entreaty the apostle makes to mutual agreement in judgment and affection. `If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded' (Phil. 2:1), as if he should say, `Unless you will disclaim all consolation in Christ, labour to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' What a joyful spectacle is this to Satan and his faction, to see those that are separated from the world fall in pieces among themselves! Our discord is our enemy's melody.

The more to blame are those that for private aims affect differences from others, and will not suffer the wounds of the church to close and meet together. This must not be understood as if men should dissemble their judgment in any truth where there is just cause of expressing themselves; for the least truth is Christ's and not ours, and therefore we are not to take liberty to affirm or deny at our pleasure. There is something due on a penny as well as on a pound, therefore we must be faithful in the least truth, when the season calls for it. Then our words are `like apples of gold in pictures of silver' (Prov. 25:11). One word spoken in season will do more good than a thousand out of season. But in some cases peace, through having our faith to ourselves before God (Rom. 14:22), is of more consequence than the open discovery of some things we take to be true, considering that the weakness of man's nature is such that there can hardly be a discovery of any difference in opinion without some estrangement of affection. So far as men are not of one mind, they will hardly be of one heart, except where grace and the peace of God bear great rule in the heart (Col. 3:15). Therefore open show of difference is only good when it is necessary, although some, from a desire to be somebody, turn into by ways and yield to a spirit of contradiction in themselves. Yet, if Paul may be judge, they `are yet carnal' (1 Cor. 3:3). If it be wisdom, it is wisdom from beneath: for the wisdom from above, as it is pure, so it is peaceable (James 3:17). Our blessed Saviour, when he was to leave the world, what did he press upon his disciples more than peace and love? And in his last prayer, with what earnestness did he beg of his Father that `they all may be one', as he and the Father were one (John 17:21). But what he prayed for on earth, we shall only enjoy perfectly in heaven. Let this make the meditation of that time the more sweet unto us.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BRUISED

And further, to expose offenders of this kind, what spirit shall we think them to be of that take advantage of the bruisedness and infirmities of men's spirits to relieve them with false peace for their own worldly ends? A wounded spirit will part with anything. Most of the gainful points of popery, such as satisfaction, merit and purgatory, spring from hence, but they are physicians of no value, or tormentors and not physicians at all. It is a greater blessing to be delivered from the sting of these scorpions (Rev. 9:5) than we are thankful for. Spiritual tyranny is the greatest tyranny, and then especially when it is where most mercy should be shown; yet even there some, like cruel surgeons, delight in making long cures, to serve themselves through the misery of others. It brings men under a terrible curse that they `remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man', that they might `even slay the broken in heart' (Psa. 109:16).

In the same way, to such as raise temporal advantage to themselves out of the spiritual misery of others we must add such as raise estates by betraying the church, and are unfaithful in the trust committed unto them, when the children cry for the bread of life, and there is none to give them, bringing thus upon the people of God that heavy judgment of a spiritual famine, starving Christ in his members. Shall we so requite so good a Saviour who counts the love and mercy shown in feeding his lambs (John 21:15) as shown to himself?

DESPISING THE SIMPLE MEANS OF MERCY

Lastly, they carry themselves very unkindly towards Christ who stumble at his low stooping to us in his government and ordinances, that are ashamed of the simplicity of the gospel, that count preaching foolishness. They, out of the pride of their heart, think that they may do well enough without the help of the Word and sacraments, and think Christ did not take enough dignity upon him; and therefore they will mend the matter with their own devices so that they may give better satisfaction to flesh and blood. What greater unthankfulness can there be than to despise any help that Christ in mercy has provided for us? In the days of his flesh the proud Pharisees took offence at his familiar conversing with sinful men, though he only did so as a physician to heal their souls. What defenses was Paul driven to make for himself, for his plainness in unfolding the gospel? The more Christ, in himself and in his servants, shall descend to exalt us, the more we should, with all humility and readiness, entertain that love and magnify the goodness of God, that has put the great work of our salvation, and laid the government, upon so gentle a Saviour as will carry himself so mildly in all things wherein he is to deal between God and us, and us and God. The lower Christ comes down to us, the higher let us lift him up in our hearts. So will all those do that have ever found the experience of Christ's work in their hearts.


We come now to the last part of our text, concerning the constant progress of Christ's gracious power, until he has set up an absolute government in us which shall prevail over all corruptions. It is said here that he will cherish his beginnings of grace in us until he bring forth `judgment unto victory' (Matt. 12:20).

CHRIST'S JUDGMENT ESTABLISHED IN US

By judgment here is meant the kingdom of grace in us, that government whereby Christ sets up a throne in our hearts. Governors among the Jews were first called judges, then kings, whence this inward rule is called judgment, as also because it agrees with the judgment of the Word, which the Psalmist often calls judgment (as in Psalm 72:1,2) because it agrees with God's judgment. Men may read their doom in God's Word. What it judges of them God judges of them. By this judgment set up in us, good is discerned, allowed, and performed; sin is judged, condemned, and executed. Our spirit, being under the Spirit of Christ, is governed by him, and, so far as it is governed by Christ, it governs us graciously.

Christ and we are of one judgment and of one will. He has his will in us, and his judgments are so invested with authority in us as that they are turned into our judgment, we carrying his law in our hearts, written there by his Spirit (Jer. 31:33). The law in the inner man and the law written answer to each other as counterparts.

The meaning then is that the gracious frame of holiness set up in our hearts by the Spirit of Christ shall go forward until all contrary power is subdued. The spirit of judgment will be a spirit of burning (Isa. 4:4) to consume whatever opposed corruption eats into the soul like rust. If God's builders fall into errors and build stubble on a good foundation, God's Spirit, as a spiritual fire, will reveal this in time (1 Cor. 3:13), and destroy it. The builders shall, by a spirit of judgment, condemn their own errors and courses. The whole work of grace in us is set out under the name of judgment, and sometimes wisdom, because judgment is the chief and leading part in grace, so that the gracious work of repentance is called a change of the mind, and an after wisdom. On the other hand, in the learned languages the words that express wisdom imply also a general relish and savor of the whole soul, and rather more the judgment of taste than of sight or any other sense, because taste is the most necessary sense, and requires a nearer application of the object than all other senses. So, in spiritual life, it is most necessary that the Spirit should alter the taste of the soul so that it might savor the things of the Spirit so deeply that all other things should be out of relish.

And as it is true of every particular Christian that Christ's judgment in him shall be victorious, so likewise of the whole body of Christians, the church. The government of Christ, and his truth, whereby he rules as by a scepter, shall at length be victorious in spite of Satan, antichrist, and all enemies. Christ, riding on his white horse (Rev. 6:2), has a bow and goes forth conquering, in the ministry, that he may overcome either to conversion or to confusion. But yet I take judgment principally for Christ's kingdom and government within us, firstly, because God especially requires the subjection of the soul and conscience as his proper throne; and, secondly, because, if judgment should prevail in all others about us and not in our own hearts, it would not yield comfort to us; and therefore it is the first thing that we desire when we pray, 'Thy kingdom come', that Christ would come and rule in our hearts. The kingdom of Christ in his ordinances serves but to bring Christ home into his own place, our hearts.

The words being thus explained, that judgment here includes the government of mind, will and affections, there are various conclusions that naturally spring from them.

CHRIST'S MILDNESS AND HIS GOVERNMENT

The first conclusion from the connection of this part of the verse with the former is that Christ is mild in the way that we have seen so that he may then set up his government in those whom he is so gentle and tender over. He pardons in this way so as to be obeyed as a king; he takes us to be his spouse so as to be obeyed as a husband. The same Spirit that convinces us of the necessity of his righteousness to cover us convinces us also of the necessity of his government to rule us. His love to us moves him to frame us to be like himself, and our love to him stirs us up to be such as he may take delight in, neither do we have faith or hope any further than we have a concern to be purged as he is pure. He makes us subordinate governors, yea, kings under himself, giving us grace not only to fight but to subdue in some measure our base affections. It is one main fruit of Christ's exaltation that he may turn every one of us from our wickedness (Acts 3:26). `For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living' (Rom.14:9). God has bound himself by an oath that he would grant us that `we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him' (Luke 1:75), and not only before the world.

PARDON LEADS TO OBEDIENCE

This may serve for a trial to discern who may lay just claim to Christ's mercy. Only those that will take his yoke and count it a greater happiness to be under his government than to enjoy any liberty of the flesh; that will take whole Christ, and not single out of him what may stand with their present contentment; that will not divide Lord from Jesus, and so make a Christ of their own, may make this claim. None ever did truly desire mercy for pardon but desired mercy for healing. David prays for a new spirit, as well as for a sense of pardoning mercy (Psa. 51:10).

JUSTIFICATION LEADS TO SANCTIFICATION

This also shows that those are misled that make Christ to be only righteousness to us and not sanctification, except by imputation, whereas it is a great part of our happiness to be under such a Lord, who was not only born for us, and given to us, but has the government likewise upon his shoulder (Isa. 9:6,7). He is our Sanctifier as well as our Saviour, our Saviour as well by the effectual power of his Spirit from the power of sin as by the merit of his death from the guilt thereof; provided these things are remembered:

1. The first and chief ground of our comfort is that Christ as a priest offered himself as a sacrifice to his Father for us. The guilty soul flies first to Christ crucified, made a curse for us. Thence it is that Christ has right to govern us; thence it is that he gives us his Spirit as our guide to lead us home.

2. In the course of our life, after we are in a state of grace, if we are overtaken with any sin, we must remember to have recourse first to Christ's mercy to pardon us, and then to the promise of his Spirit to govern us.

3. And when we feel ourselves cold in affection and duty, the best way is to warm ourselves at this fire of his love and mercy in giving himself for us.

4. Again, remember this, that Christ rules us by a spirit of love, from a sense of his love, whereby his commandments are easy to us. He leads us by his free Spirit, a Spirit of liberty. His subjects are voluntaries. The constraint that he lays upon his subjects is that of love. He draws us sweetly with the cords of love. Yet remember also that he draws us strongly by a Spirit of power, for it is not sufficient that we have motives and encouragements to love and obey Christ from that love of his, whereby he gave himself for us to justify us; but Christ's Spirit must likewise subdue our hearts, and sanctify them to love him, without which all motives would be ineffectual.

Our disposition must be changed. We must be new creatures. They seek for heaven in hell that seek for spiritual love in an unchanged heart. When a child obeys his father it is from reasons persuading him, as likewise from a child like nature which gives strength to these reasons. It is natural for a child of God to love Christ so far as he is renewed, not only from inducement of reason so to do, but likewise from an inward principle and work of grace, whence those reasons have their chief force. First we are made partakers of the divine nature, and then we are easily induced and led by Christ's Spirit to spiritual duties.

Can We Lengthen or Shorten Our Life by Our Own Behavior?

Principles For A Long Life 

Scripture gives principles that can allow us to live a long life. The Bible does say. 

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short (Proverbs 10:27). 

Moses wrote. 

Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time (Deuteronomy 4:40). 

The New Testament echoes this truth. 

Honor your father and mother - this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:2,3) 

Saul 

In the Old Testament, we are told that King Saul's life was taken early . Saul he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. His kingdom was turned over to David son of Jesse (1 Chronicles 10:13,14). 

Premature Death 

Sinful conduct can actually shorten the lives of believers. The Bible speaks of certain people dying prematurely because of some sin in their life. Scripture speaks of a sin unto death. 

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that (1 John 5:16). 

Believers can sin to the place where it leads to physical death. 

Corinth 

The Apostle Paul said some of the believers in Corinth died prematurely because of abuses at the Lord's Supper. 

For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world (1 Corinthians 11:29-32). 

Ananias And Sapphira 

Two believers, Ananias and Sapphira died prematurely because they lied to God about the price of some land that they sold (Acts 5:1-11). The Bible says that fear fell upon believers after this event. 

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events (Acts 5:11). 

Judged To Physical Death, Not Eternal 

It must be emphasized that these believers experience physical death, not eternal separation from God. Their physical death did not cost them their eternal soul. Paul wrote about one such person who was being judged. 

When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:4,5). 

This man's sinful nature, or life, was to be destroyed, but his spirit would be saved at the time of the Lord's judgment. This is the consistent teaching of Scripture - the believer is secure in Christ. 

Summary 

The Bible makes it clear that God is in control of everything. There are certain principles given in Scripture that, when applied, may lead to a longer life. The Bible does give examples of people who died prematurely for not obeying God's commandments. These believers lost their lives, not their eternal souls. 

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Is there an appointed time to die?

Yes, we have an appointment with death and we also have an appointment with judgement (for we shall all stand before the Lord to give an account of how we have lived our lives), but God has not appointed (fixed) the time of our death - for to a great extent, that time is up to us, for God respects our free-will. So we are designed to die one day, but we don’t have an pre-ordained time to die.That would be FATALISM which the Bible does not teach. 

Now God knows all things, so He knows the end from the beginning, He knows the choices we will make and He knows the ultimate length of our life: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your Book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16). However, God does not infringe our free-will by pre-determining exactly when we will die, but rather He gives us freedom to affect the length of our life through our choices.

Does not Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 say there is a time to die?: 
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted." This is saying there is a right or proper time to die. There is a rhythm to life on earth, there are cycles of life that every living thing goes through. Here the human life-span is compared to a plant from its planting (birth) to its plucking (death).

There is a proper season and time to die, just as there is a proper time to harvest a crop. What is that time? It is when it has reached a full ripe age or maturity. You do not harvest a crop when it has just begun to spring up. You would be harvesting it before its proper time. Likewise the time to die is at a full age, after a fully developed life.

As Job 5:26 says: "You will come to your grave in a full age, as a shock of corn comes in his (proper) season." 

The season to die is at a full age. We do not harvest a crop when it is half grown. Mid-life is not your time to die! 

There are things you do that shorten and lengthen your life.The Bible is clear that when you die is not all up to God. 

Ecclesiastes 7:17: "Be not overly (1) wicked, nor (2) foolish why should you die before your (proper) time (full age)?" 

Here we are told two ways we can shorten our time on earth, so that we die before the full life-span God wants us to enjoy.

1. Being wicked. Sin will shorten your life for: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). If you put your work and effort into sinful lifestyle, you will receive its wages - death. That is: Death will come to you sooner than it should.

Psalm 55:23: "bloody and deceitful men will not live out half their days; but I will trust in You (for a long life)."

Proverbs 13:3: “He who keeps (guards) his mouth (from speaking evil and unbelief) keeps (protects) his life: but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.”

Ephesians 6:2,3 (from Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16): "Honour your father and mother (the first commandment with promise): That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." If we dishonour our parents, then it is impossible for it to go well with us and for us to live long on the earth. In other words, our life will be cut short.

Psalm 34:12,13 (also 1Peter 3:9,10): “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Clearly if we fail to keep our tongue from evil, we will disqualify ourselves from seeing the promise fulfilled. Again we see the length of our life depends on our choices.

2. Being Foolish. There are also foolish things that we can do that may not be sinful, but they will also shorten our lives. If we do not eat properly or take care of our body in other ways we will pay a price. If we go out into the cold and wet not properly dressed that is foolish. If we do not listen to the advice of those with more experience and taking unnecessary risks may not necessarily be sinful, but it certainly is foolish, 
and foolishness can seriously shorten your life.

But praise God, we can also add years to our life on earth! 
Sin and foolishness will take time off your life, but God’s Word in you will add and even multiply days to your life:

Proverbs 3:1,2: "My son, forget not my LAW; but let your heart keep my COMMANDMENTS, for LENGTH OF DAYS, and LONG LIFE and peace, shall they (God's words) ADD to you."God’s Word in us will increase the number of our days.

Proverbs 4:10: "My son, receive My SAYINGS; and 
(as a result) the YEARS of your life shall be MANY."

In Deuteronomy 11:18-21. God promises increased quantity and quality of life, if we will put His Word first: “You shall lay up these WORDS of Mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that YOUR DAYS and the days of your children may BE MULTIPLIED in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as the DAYS of HEAVEN on EARTH.” If we keep God’s Word ever before us it will multiply and enrich our days on earth.

Proverbs 9:11: "By Me (Wisdom) your DAYS shall be MULTIPLIED and the YEARS of your life INCREASED" God’s WISDOM is in His WORD, so as we receive the wisdom of His Word into our heart, that wisdom will cause our days to be multiplied and our years to be increased. 

If we sow our attention to God’s Word, we will reap God’s (eternal, re-energising) life, both in this life and in eternity, but if we sow to the flesh we shall reap death and destruction:

Galatians 6:7,8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life.” 

Romans 8:6: “For to be carnally minded is DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and PEACE.” 

If we will sow your time to the Word of God, then we will surely reap back in your earthly life more time and blessing. If we will give our time to God’s Word, it will give that time back to us multiplied, in a longer life of blessed days! 

Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (of this life, including days) will be added unto you (length of life added to us).”

If we are tempted to think: ‘I don’t have time for the Word of God”, we should remember that any time we invest in the Word will be multiplied back to us. But if we live without the Word, our life will be shortened. So if we are wise, the first priority for the use of our time is to put it into the Word.

Proverbs 3:13-18: “Happy is the man who finds WISDOM, and the man who gains understanding (from God’s Word); for her PROCEEDS are better than the PROFITS of silver, and her GAIN than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. LENGTH OF DAYS IS IN HER RIGHT HAND. In her left hand is riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree (source) of LIFE to those who TAKE HOLD of her, and happy are all who RETAIN her.”

As we study God’s Word, we will receive God’s WISDOM imparted into our heart. This wisdom is our most valuable asset, continually giving to us precious proceeds and profits, such as health and long-life. She carries with her LENGTH of DAYS, so when we lay hold of her and keep her close to our heart, we will also receive what she brings with her. Thus when we receive God’s Word into our heart, it will then produce by-products in our life, which include LONG-LIFE. 

We will lengthen our life by living right and serving God.

Deuteronomy 25:15: “You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your DAYS may be LENGTHENED in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” If we walk in integrity and righteousness in our treatment of others, our days (life) will be lengthened.

Proverbs 28:16: “A tyrannical ruler lacks judgement, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a LONG LIFE.”

God promises us as He promised Solomon in 1Kings 3:14: "If you walk in My ways, and keep My commandments ... then I will LENGTHEN your DAYS." 

Exodus 23:25,26: "You shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you, ... and the (full) number of your days (your full life-span) I will fulfil." 

We have seen many promises of God for long-life, revealing the fact that it is God’s general will for us. However these promises are CONDITIONAL on what we believe and do. Their fulfilment depends on us, therefore the length of our life is not pre-ordained, but we can increase it or decrease it. 

This is also revealed in the classic long-life scripture:
Psalm 91:14-16: "Because HE HAS SET HIS LOVE UPON ME, I will deliver him: I will set him on high, for he has known My name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM, and show him My salvation." 

The promise of long-life is only for the person who sets his love upon God. Literally, this means he clings to God in faith and humble dependance. As he abides under the shadow of the Almighty and clings to God (the Source of Life), so God’s life is imparted to him and God is able to fulfil His promise to him of long-life. Clearly the length of his life depends on his fellowship with God and faith in God. By loving and trusting God, the man in Psalm 91 received a long satisfying life from God, whereas the outcome would have been quite different if he had not lived his life that way.

So we have a choice to either shorten our life or lengthen it: Proverbs 10:27: "The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."

God gives US the CHOICE of LIFE or DEATH, BLESSING or CURSING, and He wants us to CHOOSE LIFE: 

Deuteronomy 30:19,20: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may CLING TO HIM, for HE IS YOUR LIFE and the LENGTH of YOUR DAYS.”

Notice LIFE and BLESSING is set over against DEATH and CURSE. LIFE in all its forms (physical and spiritual) is a BLESSING. DEATH in all its forms (physical and spiritual) is the CURSE. God is LIFE, He is our LIFE, so being connected to God brings the blessing of life, but separation from Him results in the curse of death. He wants us to choose life, and the way we choose life is to choose Him for He IS LIFE. The blessing of life that God promises here to those who love Him clearly includes LENGTH of DAYS: “for HE IS YOUR LIFE and the LENGTH of YOUR DAYS”. Therefore LONG-LIFE is a blessing from God, but it is our CHOICE whether to receive it. He is the Source of life, so as we cling to Him, He will add life and length of days to us. 

Declare with the Psalmist: "I shall not die, but live (long), and declare the works of the LORD" (Psalm 118:17).

Is the length of our life preordained? In that encounter with Kenneth Hagin, satan misquoted Hebrews 9:27 which says: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement." This does NOT say there is: "an appointed time to die" as if God has fixed the day of our death and so there is nothing we can do about it. What it actually says is that man has but one life on earth and one death after which he will stand before God to be judged.