As we get into this segment, I wonder, even of me; just how content I would be with just how long God would have you or I to live? I’m going to show you these verses just to get started.

(Psalms 90:10-12)

THE DAYS OF OUR YEARS ARE THREESCORE AND TEN; AND IF BY REASON OF STRENGTH THEY BE FOURSCORE, YET IS THEIR STRENGTH LABOR AND SORROW, FOR IT IS SOON CUT OFF, AND WE FLY AWAY. (11) WHO KNOWETH THE POWER OF THINE ANGER? EVEN ACCORDING TO THY FEAR, SO IS THY WRATH. (12) SO TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM.

According to (verse10) God sees the average age of man as (threescore and ten), seventy years. He also says, if by reason of strength we live (fourscore) eighty years that extra time will be labor and sorrow. we’ll soon be cut off and fly away. Now, let’s consider something here. Please realize that this is not meant to be completely accurate but rather just simply to make a point. Did you know that worldwide, considering all people that the average life span is about seventy-two years? That’s today with all the medical knowledge we have gained over all the years of man’s existence.

So, let’s consider this. If God just simply promised you seventy years of life, no sickness, you don’t have to worry about dying in an accident or someone killing you, would you be content with that number? Now, in (verse 12) the Psalmist Asked God to (teach us) to number our days. Why? That we might apply our hearts to wisdom. If you knew that you had exactly seventy years from the day you were born. That means on the day you turned seventy, without sickness or anything, you were going to simply die. With that knowledge, when would you begin to apply your heart to wisdom?

I realize that all these are hypothetical questions. Our lives are not planned out that way. God chose to do it another way. He gave men the ability to use worldly knowledge and wisdom to come up with medicines and procedures to help our frail bodies as this life unfolds. However, would you agree that we still need to begin our spiritual wisdom at an early age because we do not know the number of our days?

Men have all kinds of different views on how God sees the number of our days. Well, God does know the actual second each of us will die. To say that he doesn’t is saying he isn’t God. Personally, I don’t know that God gets caught up in every little aspect of our lives, even the very second, we die. I know that the very fact that I say that can be argued and will by some people. However, my point is that no matter what we do, using medicine, exercise or anything else, we; are going to die. If we do something to create a little more time on this earth, that’s a minor thing as far as God is concerned.

I’ll use an example to make my point. One of my sisters did something one day that brought about a promised whipping from my mom. When my sister realized that she was going to be whipped, she ran out of the house, down the farm road toward the back of our little farm. My mom went after her but, she stopped and said, I’ll get her when she comes back! All my sister did was by herself a little time before she had to face (the judgement). Don’t we, using medicine do the very same thing?

I just used that as an example, I believe the knowledge we have gained from medicine is a very good thing. However, can’t we also view it as something that can be used as a way to keep from facing God? To put off as long as we can the judgement we are going to face for our wayward spiritual lives?

(The medical standard of this world) is not focused on anything that concerns God’s will for anyone and, it has no reason to be. It’s up to individuals to decide how they live their lives and for whom. In many cases things are done within the will of God. The people that create medical devices or medicines are truly seeking to help people better their lives that they might seek to do God’s will as long as they live. With that being said, there will always be people that use those same things to enhance their own selfish will and desires.

Look at this verse:

(Ecclesiastes 12:13)

LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN.

The whole book of Ecclesiastes looks at things from a total physical aspect. So, what is the physical responsibility of all people? Doesn’t he answer that question in this verse? In this segment we are speaking of man’s ability to repair our bodies with medicine. If we compare this verse to what we see and know about medicine today; why is it that we take medicine or, why does men seek to make medical devices and medicines to advance our lives? It is all done that we might fulfil this verse?

I would like to share something with you. Without the aid of medicine, it’s a great possibility that I wouldn’t be here typing these words right now! I have medical issues that demand that I take medicine. I’m sure that I’m no different than millions of other people that will testify to the same thing. Since I mentioned myself, I’d like to share something else. As an electrician I often do things for people that I don’t charge for or, charge very little. When they ask why, this is what I always reply. (If this world is going to be governed by the love of money, I don’t have to be that way)!

By way of an example, I’ll tell this story. The Church I once attended, even got saved in had a pastor that love God, preached with power and God used him in a powerful way. It also had a man that attended that drove a race car on local tracks. One Sunday morning he attended Church. When he left that day, he shook the pastor’s hand and slipped him some money. He told him laughingly that he had won that money gambling on the race the night before, in a sense; poking fun at the pastor for taking it. The pastor replied, I’ll take it! It’s been in the Devil’s hands long enough!

It doesn’t matter what subject we are speaking of. In this segment, it happens to be medicine. We, as born-again believers live as ambassadors in a sin-cursed world. Everything we do, see or touch is to a great degree (of this world). As it relates to medicine (I believe) that man has reached the point that he can actually look inside a body and see death coming. According to what he sees, he can tell you; if you stay as, you are, you’re going to die. He can also tell you often just how long you will live if you stay just as you are.

Do you realize that (worldly medical standards) have reached a place that they will tell you things that God will not reveal to you? If you asked God when you will die, within a few weeks period, will he give you that answer? The (medical world) will! The (medical world) will take your body, a body they cannot make, they cannot reproduce, that is in any complete sense, but they can explain to you many things about it. (The medical standards of this world) can take the body that God created and regulate the blood pressure, sugar level, they can speed your heart up or slow it down. They can take out damaged parts, even replace some of them. They can take your heart out, repair it and put it back in.

As I say all of this; what does it mean to a born-again believer? This is something I believe we miss. The people that love this world, those that have rejected Jesus Christ and, by choice, chose this world; they have every right to live and do as they please. I’m not saying it’s what God desires but rather, what they chose. In these things I write about this world, we’ll have a segment on (lifestyles). However, doesn’t our choices about how we do and see medicine reflect what lifestyle we have to somewhat chosen?

How does those of this world, as it relates to medicine see you as a born-again believer? Why do you desire to continue to live in this world? How does this world see you handle medical situations, death situations and things of that sort as you continue to live here? God’s desire for those that are born-again to be seen as different in the way we handle (medical) situations even those that can be seen as bring about death.

There’s a few verses of scripture I’d like to point out here:

(Luke 17:12-15)

AND HE ENTERED INTO A CERTAIN VILLAGE, THERE MET HIM TEN MEN THAT WERE LEPERS, WHICH STOOD AFAR OFF: (13) AND THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES, AND SAID, JESUS, MASTER, HAVE MERCY ON US. (14) AND WHEN HE SAW THEM, HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO SHEW YOURSELVES UNTO THE PRIESTS. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, AS THEY WENT, THEY WERE CLEANSED. (15) AND ONE OF THEM, WHEN HE SAY THAT HE WAS HEALED, TURNED BACK, AND WITH A LOUD VOICE GLORIFIED GOD, (16) AND FELL DOWN ON HIS FACE AT HIS FEET, GIVING HIM THANKS: AND HE WAS A SAMARITAM. (17) AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID, WERE THERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? BUT WHERE ARE THE NINE?

In all that man does and has accomplished, where did he gain the knowledge? Why does even those of this world have the life, the ability to do all that is done? As we look at this verse notice that Jesus Christ is actually doing the healing. He just told ten lepers to go and to show themselves unto the priest. Simply by faith they moved toward doing just that. Even while on their way, healing came. That was because of the faith they had in the words of Jesus Christ.

Now, only one came back to thank him! I read this verse only to make a point about how few people are truly thankful to Jesus Christ for the actually healing of any kind they receive. Any way we choose to look at healing and medicine; man develops the things we use. From a simple aspirin for a headache to the cancer centers for adults and children. Even the computer I’m now typing on had to be developed by man. God gives us abilities; it all stems from him. It’s just another way he shows us his Grace and mercy. However, whether we are the person that develops something new or, the one that is blessed by it, are we like the nine that doesn’t show our thankfulness to Jesus Christ or, are we like the one that returns to him, giving him the glory? By the way, although all ten were healed of leprosy, didn’t each of them still have to die?

I’m going to step out on a limb here and say that most people are like the nine. I believe we can see that it is obvious. Let’s take something as simple as the flu. Isn’t it very possible that if you get the flu; you could die it you can’t get the medicine you need? Of course, you could! However, there are many people that get sick, take the medicine to get well and never change a single thing about their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at it from another point of view. Let’s say you are a mother with a two-year-old child. Your Child has a medical problem that without help; they will die. You, as a mother are born again truly seeking God’s will for you and your child. Man has developed something that you can use to heal your child. As your child goes through this process, healing occurs! You, as a parent are very thankful to our Lord for sparing your sick child. Now, you know that without help your child needed you would have lost that child at around two years old. However, as that child grows what kind of lifestyle does, he or she show forth?

You see, just simply by default we give this world and the Devil that controls it the credit for what only God could have brought forth. Consider: Satan is nothing more than a fallen angel. He doesn’t even have to ability to do the things that man does. The (worldly wisdom) the (worldly knowledge) to do anything didn’t come from Satan did it? He didn’t make your heart, brain, hands, feet nor did he make any part of your body. He didn’t have the ability to give your life and, he cannot bring about any kind of sickness, healing or even death. That is, unless you yield yourself to the things of this world by his influence.

The point I’m making is that Satan can influence me to kill myself. He can influence me to take too many drugs, drink too much alcohol, drive too fast or, any number of things but, he cannot make even on thing. Satan can influence you to use something God made for his (Satan’s) glory and your personal satisfaction such as your body or, any part thereof.

As far as the (medical standards) of this world and the frailness of our bodies we all to some degree depend on it don’t we? It’s all here because of the wisdom and knowledge that God gave to mankind, no exceptions! I heard a story once about a professor that looked at God and said, I can make anything you can make. God replied, OK, go ahead, I’ll watch. The professor then reached down and got a handful of dirt. God stopped him and said, you get your own dirt!

Do you see just how ignorant man can be? I heard an advertisement the other day about taking plants and making eggs. I thought, don’t they understand that all eggs are already make from plants? Everything we touch, everything we eat, everything that grows comes from the dust of this earth! As a matter of fact, everything you see all around you is a picture of God’s amazing grace to mankind!

My grandfather-in-law told me this once and I never forgot it. He said that any man can count the seeds in one apple but, no man can count the apples in one seed! I don’t want to get too far from the (medical standards) of this world but, to me it’s all relative to the very grace of God. The man that that told me about the apple and its seed; he went to the hospital with an aneurism right next to his heart. They told him that they could try and fix it but, it was risky. They also told him that if he were sitting at home and it burst, he wouldn’t have time to get to a hospital, he’d die. The night before he was to be operated on his pastor came to see him. He asked him if he were prepared for whatever might happen tomorrow? His response to that question always fascinated me. He said, well pastor. if I go into that operating room, get fixed and come out, I’m going home to be with my family. If I I die on that operating table, I’m going home to be with my family. He died on the operating table; he went home to be with his family!

There are a few well-known hospitals around that I see advertised on TV. As they are advertised, I see and hear what the people have to say. I never hear them truly give the credit to the very person that gives life or helps people to enhance the life that is given. In almost all cases it’s about the greatness of the hospital or the doctors, nurses thereof. So, TV, radio is a means of advertisement, these are also made by man. Do we hear God given praise on these things? Are these devices used basically for God’s glory or to please our flesh? The very person that should be given all the glory for even the ability to advertise is completely shunned by (the world)!

I have a good friend that’s a plumber, another God given gift. I, as an electrician, another God given gift. He and I have crossed paths many times over the years. Not too many years ago he shared this with me. He said that he was raised in Church but over the years he got away from the Godly walk he should have. However, He had a grand child born that had some kind of health problem. He, as a grandfather became very concerned. He told me that he dropped to his knees and prayed, asking God to spare that Child. Thanks to the (medical system) of this world, the child, as far as I know is doing fine. My friend, the plumber has sought to walk with God ever since that time!

God has given us a (medical system) in this world. He has given us (worldly medicines) to take and to enhance, even lengthen our days on this earth. The question is, since God has blessed us with these things, for what purpose do you use them? Do you draw back from death for all the wrong reasons? Do you seek medical help for all the wrong reasons! What is your relationship with God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ? It’s very understandable that we all desire to live for our families, stay healthy to be able to support them. However, if we run for medical help simply because we are afraid to stand before God, we fear that aspect of our lives then is it possible that we are living our lives, seeking to stay well and alive for all the wrong reasons? When we take our children to doctors seeking to make them well. are we doing it for the wrong reasons? Do we simply live the lives given us, make all the moves, even doing our jobs all for the wrong reasons?

What is the whole duty of man? We all have to work by the sweat of our brow! A plumber has his calling, an electrician has his, a doctor, a nurse and any other person you can name has a job and the responsibility to perform it to the best of their ability. However, in all these things we must seek to make the primary focus in our lives to be pleasing to God and always seek his will in all things.

I realize it’s a hard thing to lose a child to death, my mom lost two. That means I lost two sisters. But, since (all things work together for good for those that love God, for those called according to his purpose). (Romans 8:28) the question is how much do you love God? How willing are you to be called for his purpose and not your own?

The (medical standards) and (Medicines) of this world are a tremendous asset to each of us to create a better and heathier way in our lives as we seek to walk with our God. However, never forget! If we live long lives here but neglect to put Jesus Christ first in our lives, then it all ends at the grave, that is as far as the good things of God are concerned. So, the next time you pick up an aspirin bottle for a simple headache remember, God made that too! The next time you have to go to the hospital, maybe in a life-or-death situation remember, is your life worth saving as far as what you do for all his glory. Why? Because God made that hospital and everything thereof, even every person that will be helping you.

I’ll add this and close this segment. Whether you are born again or not; how do you know you want to face tomorrow? By the same token, you don’t know what very great event might happen to you tomorrow do you? When we gain the knowledge that our lives are not about us but rather, that our whole duty is to (fear God) and to (keep his commandments); that meaning to we surrender all our tomorrows simply seeking his will; at that point our lives become eternal! To the contrary, if you are living your life clinging, placing all your hope on the (medical systems of this world) then death is all you have! At that, we do all we can to run from that death.

Satan, by deception uses the things of this world to make us think we have something we don’t. There is no (medicine or medical system) (made by this world) that can make your life eternal. That life only comes by the faith we place in Jesus’ finished work His Cross at Calvary! There is no (medical system) or (medicine) that can promise you one day extended to either your life or the life of any child you have. However, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, you can face whatever might happen to you tomorrow!

God’s desire is for each of use to have, to use the good things he provides in this world. That’s why they are here! However, he never wants us to leave him out of any choice we might make in the world. WALK WITH GOD AND, HE WILL SURELY WALK WITH YOU!

The next segment of this will be (THE WORLD AND ITS LIFESTYLE).

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7