STRONG AND VIGOROUS

"Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight wasn’t impaired and he was still vigorous and strong" (Deuteronomy 34:7, International Standard Version).

Long life is good, especially if it is spent in good health. But when you live long without good health, it becomes a punishment. Moses was here described as one who not only lived long but also "still vigorous and strong" in old age. Even at the advanced age of a hundred and twenty, his "eyesight wasn’t impaired". He was a young man even in old age, notwithstanding the unparalleled hardships he had gone through. Only God could have done that.

It is obvious that Moses died, not because he was old but because he had finished his work. You were not meant to die because of sickness or even old age. God’s original design is for you to go home after you are done with your divine assignment on the earth. If you keep your place in God, nothing should be powerful enough to terminate your life until you have fulfilled your purpose on earth.

The promise of God is to satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation (Psalms 91:16). The inclusion of satisfaction and salvation in God's promise of long life means that it would be a life of peace, health, joy and contentment. It is a long life in which your youth is being constantly renewed like the eagle and your strength does not fail. It is such a long life that you would ever be glad to have experienced.

But we also have a responsibility to take good care of the body that God has given us. Eating right is of particular importance in this matter. As nutritionists would tell us, you are what you eat. If you eat right, you will live well. Personal hygiene is also important. A dirty environment could cut short your life. It is in your lifetime interest to keep a clean mind in a clean body. As you eliminate garbage from your home, make sure that you also take conscious steps to eliminate dirty thoughts and habits from your life. If you faithfully attend to the above, you will live long and well.