Why is a long life a blessing from God, would

pepipop · #1 May 5, '12, 10:42 am

a shorter life not be more favourable, assuming the person was going to heaven? Similarly with babies and little children that die, is it not best that they go back to heaven? What is the advantage to having a long life, particularly if a person has a chronic illness, depression, or whatever for their entire life?

lianyt · #2 May 5, '12, 11:14 am

Yes ,it is a blessing because He gives every one a chance to forgave sins.

pepipop · #3 May 5, '12, 11:32 am

What about Job, he lived his life fully for God until Satan asked permission to tempt him. After Job did not abandon God, he was then blessed with a long life, more children, wealth, etc. Job, I doubt, would have ever thought of sinning against God as God was pleased with his life, hence I doubt his additional years were given to him to be forgiven.

However, if Job had to live his additional 70-80 years ill, covered in sores, as a beggar, possibly his wife dead, alone - how could this have been a blessing? Numerous people around the world have this type of existence every day of their lives.

meltzerboy · #4 May 5, '12, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepipop

a shorter life not be more favourable, assuming the person was going to heaven? Similarly with babies and little children that die, is it not best that they go back to heaven? What is the advantage to having a long life, particularly if a person has a chronic illness, depression, or whatever for their entire life?

For Judaism, a long life gives us a better opportunity to "repair the world" since G-d created the world with a few "holes" in it, and it is our obligation to fix them by means of our moral and charitable behavior. This behavior is the best way we can show our love of G-d.

**GEddie** · #5 May 5, '12, 12:11 pm

Physical human life is itself a blessing, as is every breath you breathe. Death is a hideous punishment.

So, a priori, the more breaths you breathe, the more blessed you are.

All other factors being equal, of course.

ICXC NIKA

pepipop · #6 May 5, '12, 12:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GEddie

Physical human life is itself a blessing, as is every breath you breathe. Death is a hideous punishment.

So, a priori, the more breaths you breathe, the more blessed you are.

All other factors being equal, of course.

ICXC NIKA

How can death be a hideous punishment if you have led a good life, like the saints, and go straight to heaven to praise God? I realise death was a punishment for original sin and so is disease, genetic illnesses, malformations, etc... so rather than live within a world that is already marred due to original sin, heaven would be the better option sooner rather than later. I do not understand the more breaths you breathe the more blessed you are, hence iff an infant dies at childbirth it is less blessed?

Metzlerboy's (sp) point is good, and if that is the case then we stay on earth - the vale of tears - to praise God, by suffering.

ChibiViolet · #7 May 5, '12, 2:54 pm

I personally want to die young. I don't like the idea of getting old and not being able to do much any more (of course, more importantly, I want to die in God's Grace.)

Life is a blessing in and of itself, but since the fall of humanity, to many it can often seem more like a curse.

**GEddie** · #8 May 5, '12, 3:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenedictFTW

Jesus died at 33. Many of the saints did too. According to St Thomas A Kempis, living a long life can be dangerous for the soul!

it is too late for me to die at 33

Likewise me. But there is nothing particularly holy about 33.

HE may indeed have been as old as 38 or 39 (born 6BC, died AD33; no zero year).

ICXC NIKA

**GEddie** · #9 May 5, '12, 3:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChibiViolet

I personally want to die young. I don't like the idea of getting old and not being able to do much any more (of course, more importantly, I want to die in God's Grace.)

Life is a blessing in and of itself, but since the fall of humanity, to many it can often seem more like a curse.

Dying young doesn't necessarily mean avoiding the time of disablement prior to death. It may just mean you get it earlier.

And those who die old do not always have lingering deaths, either.

Physical human life is wonderful and I can't see wanting to give it up. What death does to the physical, embodied human being can only be described as hideous.

God Bless, ICXC NIKA

fbl9 · #10 May 5, '12, 3:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepipop

a shorter life not be more favourable, assuming the person was going to heaven? Similarly with babies and little children that die, is it not best that they go back to heaven? What is the advantage to having a long life, particularly if a person has a chronic illness, depression, or whatever for their entire life?

Early in the OT God shortened our lifespan. How much shorter do you want it?
Though i do understand what you are getting at. There is no honor in dieing young.
Other posters have mentioned forgiveness, Each day gives us opportunity to grow in our love for each other and for God. Infants and young children can not obtain the same level of love for God as older people can.

Scapegoat · #11 May 5, '12, 3:32 pm

I think long life I would be a blessing for anyone living a life with a clean conscience, but I guess a short life would likewise be a blessing for the same reason.

pepipop · #12 May 5, '12, 3:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbl9

Early in the OT God shortened our lifespan. How much shorter do you want it?
Though i do understand what you are getting at. There is no honor in dieing young.
Other posters have mentioned forgiveness, Each day gives us opportunity to grow in our love for each other and for God. Infants and young children can not obtain the same level of love for God as older people can.

'There is no honor in dieing young' - I don't know what you mean? If you're born with chronic illness and unable to enjoy your life through pain and/or are born into extreme poverty in a third world country with 'leprosy', how can this be a blessing to live to an old age. Pain can be very debilitating on the mind and make it extremely difficult for that person to show love let alone think about it emotionally - all they can feel is the physical pain.

Fine if you are in robust health, able to enjoy life with plenty of energy, yes, I can see such people not wishing to die young esp., if they have families and grandchildren to look forward to, etc...

Quite a number of saints actually died at age 24, e.g. St Therese d'Lisieux, St Elizabeth of Hungary and St Gabriel of Our Lady of sorrows and others, and most had illnesses that made them bedridden at times through their lives.

If a long life was a blessing then all saints would live until they were well into their 90's and beyond, however although some did live to an older age most did not.

Scapegoat · #13 May 5, '12, 4:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepipop

If a long life was a blessing then all saints would live until they were well into their 90's and beyond, however although some did live to an older age most did not.

I personally believe the saints were resigned to live for however long God willed them to live regardless of their physical situation. I think they looked at life and death as acts of love and were happy to render them to God when and in the manner in which He saw fit to render them.

fbl9 · #14 May 5, '12, 4:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepipop

'There is no honor in dieing young' - I don't know what you mean? If you're born with chronic illness and unable to enjoy your life through pain and/or are born into extreme poverty in a third world country with 'leprosy', how can this be a blessing to live to an old age. Pain can be very debilitating on the mind and make it extremely difficult for that person to show love let alone think about it emotionally - all they can feel is the physical pain.

Fine if you are in robust health, able to enjoy life with plenty of energy, yes, I can see such people not wishing to die young esp., if they have families and grandchildren to look forward to, etc...

Quite a number of saints actually died at age 24, e.g. St Therese d'Lisieux, St Elizabeth of Hungary and St Gabriel of Our Lady of sorrows and others, and most had illnesses that made them bedridden at times through their lives.

If a long life was a blessing then all saints would live until they were well into their 90's and beyond, however although some did live to an older age most did not.

For many of us such a life would be abnormal. But in the mind of those in poor condtions it is normal for them.

pepipop · #15 May 6, '12, 1:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbl9

For many of us such a life would be abnormal. But in the mind of those in poor conditions it is normal for them.

If one human being has to live like that on earth, then that is the way life is. Just because the conditions are 'normal' for such people doesn't make it any less 'painful' for these human beings. What about the homeless in the USA, most of these poor souls aren't exactly in the best of health and not exactly living the life of riley.

Also, parents that lose all their biological children through disease and illness at a very young age and are then left childless - you think they may not wish to return to their babies, their hearts totally broken.

I still have not heard a good reason why a long life is a blessing - apart from Metzlerboy that we are here to assist God, which is in itself not a blessing but a work of praise and in most people's cases suffering for God.