Will You Live to Be 100?

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
Since the Social Security Administration began to keep records of old age in this country, there has been a great change. Here are some of their figures:
In 1960, there were around 3,500 centenarians in the U.S.
In 1970: 4,574.
In 1980: 15,258.
In 1985: 25,355.
There were over 10,000 new centenarians in the past 5 years, and with every new year the numbers increase.
Why?
Every statistician seems to have a different theory:
Improved medical care—good genes—avoiding bad habits—prevention of accidents—staying active —being optimistic—the list goes on and on.
It begins to look as though a 100-year life-span is within the reach of many people, and the present craze for physical fitness seems to indicate that there are a lot of people working hard to stretch their years on earth to the farthest possible limits.
But after that, what? If one reaches that century mark, what then?
Death will be getting very, very close, and inevitable. And after death—?
Well, we know that "it is appointed unto men once to die"—science still can't get around that—"but after this the judgment."
After death, the judgment! No wonder people are anxious to postpone that to the last possible moment! But that last moment may be nearer than you think. While it is true that many will reach that century mark, many, many more will not!
The only sensible, reasonable thing to do is to make sure now, at once, that that day will not find you unprepared no matter when it comes.
To go on with that quotation from the Bible: "As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:27, 28.
Every man, every woman, and every child on earth is subject to death, but "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many," and none of those who accept the salvation He offers will face that terrible judgment.
The Lord Jesus says: "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.