Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is conceived, bringeth forth death. James 1:15
In my article titled: ‘Why You Must Not Ask for Riches’ published here on June 3, I said king Solomon pleased God with a sacrifice of a thousand rams in Gibeon and God asked him to present his desires in life to Him. Rather than Solomon asking for riches and long life and lives of his enemies, he humbly asked for wisdom and understanding to be able to rule over the people of Israel. God was pleased with him and gave him what he did not ask for, both riches and honour and with a condition God promised him long life.
Please be patient and learn why you should not either
in your privacy pray for long life or follow others in the church or any
worship centre to pray for long life. God’s initial plan for man after the
creation is for them to live forever in the Garden. But when man fell, God
pronounced death, so death came as a result of sin. Then God gave man a maximum
of 120 years to live in the world.
And the LORD
said, my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:
yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:3
Man is flesh using the spirit of God to live. God has
made provision for everything we need to survive in our earthly life. For us to
have a long life, the requirement is holy living. God’s eyes are always upon
the righteous. The righteous are those who fear Him and keep his commandments. Now
under the grace it is not enough to fear God and obey His commandments, but the
righteous must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He
came in the flesh, and accept Jesus as his/her Lord and Saviour.
For the long life, God gave Solomon a condition to be
fulfilled in order for him to enjoy healthy long life. God gave king Solomon
both riches and honour which he didn’t ask for, but said He would satisfy him
with long life if Solomon could fear Him and keep his commandments.
And if thou
wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father
David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 1Kings 3:14
Once you are righteous, your life is protected and you
need not to be praying for long life. Remember we are strangers here in the
world. If Bible says we are Ambassadors, why can’t we prepare to go to heaven
where there is no sorrow, no pain, no sickness and no death? Why are you so
much afraid of death that all you have to think about is that someone elsewhere
is planning evil against you or witches and wizards are responsible for your
lack of prosperity and are also planning to send evil arrow to kill you?
If you are a true believer of God through Jesus
Christ, then all that is expected of you is holy living. God knows the way of
the righteous and He is ever ready to satisfy them with long life. A Christian
should learn to control himself. No foolish talk, no foolish question. No evil
communication. No jesting that would annoy another person. No stupid jokes, no
malice. Read Eph.4:3-4
Christians are expected to be humble, meek, kind, generous
and tenderhearted. A true believer should
not find it difficult to forgive. We are advised by Apostle Paul not to allow our
anger to last till the sun-set of the same day we are offended or provoked to anger.
Be ye angry,
and sin not: Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Ephesians 4:26
Sin is the major reason for short life. We sin often
because of evil desire (lust). ‘Evil desire’ is the meaning of ‘lust’. James writes:
Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is conceived,
bringeth forth death. James 1:15
So Dear Brethren, to live long in this wicked world
does not require any special prayer. All that is required of us is obedience to
God and keeping of His words. We must love God and love our fellow human beings
unconditionally.
It is a waste of time going to different churches for programmes
designed for prayers for long life and prosperity.
I also advise you to eat good food. Listen to the
medical doctors’ advice on healthy living. Even God has forbidden us from
eating some animals and fishes and birds.
Finally I leave you with the Book of Psalm chapter one
to know God’s blessings in the life of God-fearing person:
Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law
of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be
like a tree that planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruits
in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doth he shall
prosper. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the
ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1:1-3,6
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