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A person asked me about this recently. They had heard people say such things as “It was just their time to go.” There are many folks, even members of the church, who believe there is a set time for someone to die. In defense of such a view, some look to Hebrews 9:27 where the Bible says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” However, the original Greek word translated “appointed” in this verse is also translated “laid up” in the three other verses where it is found in the New Testament. The word carries the idea of something reserved or awaiting. See Luke 19:20; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 4:8. We have to recognize that this is a general principle since there will be some that will not have died when the Lord returns, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
The Bible teaches that God has placed limits on the life span of mankind. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). The limit of 70 or 80 years is not hard fast, but again, a general principle. Even now, with all our medical capabilities, the average life span is still near 80. Job said, “Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5). Job is not discussing a set number of days for each individual, but that God has placed general limits on how long men can live on this earth.
Additionally, consider that if a person has a set time to die determined by the Lord it could not be changed. However, the Bible teaches:
A Person Can Shorten His Days.“But thou, 0 God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not Jive out half their days; but I will trust in thee” (Psalm 55:23). “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27).
A Person Can Lengthen His Days. As we read previous in Proverbs 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” The scriptures also say, ”Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 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 6:1-3).
We know the length of our life is not fixed because the Bible teaches that one’s behavior will affect his lifespan. Mankind can either shorten or lengthen his days. We don’t know precisely when it will be “our time”, but we can be certain that it will eventually come. Ask yourself, knowing the certainty of it, how should we behave? Are you ready?
“Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
Jerry Sturgill
Flatwoods church of Christ
Flatwoods, KY