GOOD THINKING: AS OLD AS METHUSELAH

We are preoccupied, possessed, with staying young and living long. We buy every lotion, cream and pill that promises to keep us young. We exercise long hours and watch what we eat, all in a hope that we will live longer. Shades of Methuselah!

Remember Methuselah? If not, then read all about him in Genesis 5:25-27. Methuselah had a famous father, Enoch. Enoch lived such a righteous and Godly life that he never experienced death; his life pleased God so much that when it was Enoch's time to leave this earth, "God took him." Methuselah had a famous grandson, Noah. Noah is the perfect example of loyalty and faithfulness to God; he was instrumental in saving all that was good in God's creation.

So what was Methuselah's claim to fame? Methuselah lived to be 969 years old; he lived longer than anyone else in all of human history. All that we know about the man is this: Methuselah lived. Methuselah died. Nothing in between. No lasting contribution to society.

What a waste!

Nine hundred sixty-nine years is a l-o-n-g time! Is it enough? I'd like to think that Methuselah filled those years with good deeds and notable accomplishments. What would it mean to live so long? Methuselah had to stay physically fit. Daily exercise. Eat well. Work hard.

No alcohol or drugs to abuse his body. Learning to relax. Methuselah, must have kept mentally alert. Taking an interest in the people and events around him. Sharing his memories with younger generations, so they might learn from him. Hobbies. Ongoing projects. Involved in championing great causes. Methuselah would have been an asset to his society. A civic and religious leader. A strong family man. Showing concern for the helpless and homeless. A promoter of peace. Finally Methuselah had to be spiritually strong. No one lives at all unless they are connected to the Source-of-Life! And Methuselah lived a long time!

Obedient to God. Faithful and trusting. Loving God with all his heart and mind and soul and strength

I'd like to think well of Methuselah. I can't! Because all we know about him is that he lived and he died. Nothing morel What a waste!

I meet Methuselahs every day. People who live for a long time, but never add much to this life. What a waste! So what if one lives to be 110 years? Is long life alone enough? No! There has to be morel There has to be something to fill up those years. Otherwise life is a waste!

When the closing line of our life story is written, let it not be said of us, "He lived, he died, end of story." No, let it be said of us, "He lived so close to God, that God just took him." Life was not meant to be wasted!