"Meaningful Lives"

 

“Meaningful Lives”

 

If we were involved in a Bible Trivia game most of us could answer the question of who was the oldest person in Scripture: Methuselah at 969 years young. But we might be stumped for numbers two, three and four (to help us win the next game they are Jared {962}, Noah {950} and Adam {930}). Each one’s birthday cake would look like a bonfire! I can’t imagine living almost twelve times longer than my present age—nor would I want to!

This brings to mind a childhood memory. When they were in their 60’s my grandparents attended a Sunday School class taught by a long-time pillar of their church who was in his late 70’s. The group somehow acquired the name “The Methuselahs”. Fast forward about  seven decades—I’d now qualify to be a member of that distinguished company.

Genesis 5 records the genealogy from Adam to Noah with little information beyond names and ages. Verses 21-27 tell us Methuselah was the son of Enoch, father of Lamech and grandfather of Noah. His name means “one who was sent” and symbolically in Hebrew prophecy “his death shall bring”, thus fulfilling his name’s meaning. (Some Bible scholars maintain that he died the year of the great flood from which only Noah and his family survived.)

The lives of all those mentioned in Genesis 5 conclude in the same way: “…then he died.” with one notable exception: “Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24). He and Elijah (see 2 Kings 2:1-12) are the only ones who were taken to Heaven apart from physical death. But there will be a generation of Christ’s followers who will enter His presence without dying (“…We who are still alive and left will be caught up together with them (i.e. those believers who had died) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”—1 Thessalonians 4:17). In the words of an old song of hope, “What a day, glorious day, that will be!”

For 300 years Methuselah had a great spiritual heritage from Enoch and for 669 years he had the opportunity to influence his descendants, so his life was meaningful. I have far less years to impact my family, both physical and spiritual, but my prayer is expressed by an unknown psalmist: “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:18). I hope this will be your prayer as well—it would make my life (and yours) much more meaningful.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan