How to Live Forever

​Jiroemon Kimura is 116 years-old and may well be the oldest person on the planet.  Japanese are well known for their longevity and many people would agree with Kimura who attests that the secret to his old age is eating small portions of food.  Mr. Kimura practices “hara hachi bu,” which means that he eats until he is 80% full. Japanese commonly eat low fat food and lots of fish and rice which helps keep them disease-free.  

Dawn Carr, a research associate at the Stanford Center on Longevity, also believes that close human relationships promote long life.  He cites the Japanese practice of ikigai. “Ikigai refers to a person’s societal roles, to engagement with family and community and to a life worth living.” Japanese scientists discovered that people who integrate ikigai in their lives suffered less cardiovascular disease and suicide.[1]

Doctors teach that exercise promotes our health by reducing cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure and heart disease.  It boosts our mental health, decreases stress, anxiety and depression.[2]  Of course multiple factors help slow our aging but I don’t care about living longer—the very notion means that at some point there is termination. I want to live forever!  
 
Meditation
Leviticus 18:5—Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them.  I am the Yahweh.  
 
The key to eternal life is found in obeying God.  Of course this requires faith.  We have to believe the Bible is true in presenting: God’s existence (Genesis 1:1); His love for us and will to fellowship with us forever (John 3:16); and His authority and power to make it happen (John 17:1-3). Because God sent His Son Jesus to save us from our sin condition, we are expected to follow Jesus’ will which results in His promise, “I assure you: if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!” (John 8:51) 

Obedience is uncomplicated but exceedingly hard.  History proves that humans prefer to live according to their own plans.  Yet, a careful heart examination reveals that when we are noncompliant we are unhappy and our guilt and shame break us down spiritually, physically, emotionally and intellectually.  What a tragedy that we resist what is meant for our good.  
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Andrew Murray stated inThe Believer’s Prayer Life,“Obedience is the most important factor in our whole relationship to God.” Obedience leads to answered prayer. Did you know that obedience produces joy which is the sign of a life well-lived? Obedience is the mother of contentment. When we know we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, there is no need for fear or anxiety.  Obedience is the switch to rest.  It is not so hard to sleep when the conscience is clear. Margaret Thatcher perhaps summarized it best when she wrote in The Freedom of Obedience,“Obedience is not a formula; rather, it is the attitude of a person who looks at God and says, ‘I want to follow You.  I will do as You say, because I love You and want above all else to please You.’”  Something to think about and live forever . . . in reveration!
 
©2013 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 


[1]http://www.tokyotimes.com/2013/japans-long-life-secrets-diet-and-human-bonds/

[2]http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22019289