The oldest person in modern times was Jeanne Louise Calment of France who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years. She took up fencing at 85 years old, was still riding a bike at 100, and did some acting at 114.
Most people would say Mrs. Calment lived a long time. And by most standards she did. But what qualifies as “a long time” really depends on what you compare it to. Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible, lived 969 years. But even Methuselah’s life was very brief when compared to the amount of time every person will spend in eternity.
Eternity has been defined as time without end. Limitless time. Endless time. It is perpetual and everlasting time that you and I and every other person will spend somewhere. When you compare the longest earthly life with eternity you begin to realize that even if you do live a long time you still don’t live a long time.
That’s why we must redeem the time.
Rick Grubbs is best known as the host of “Redeeming the Time,” a one-minute radio program featured on hundreds of radio outlets around the world. He has spoken thousands of times on Biblical time management in all 50 states and 26 other countries. He is the author of the book “Morning Momentum: God’s plan for launching an unstoppable day”. He and his wife Carrie live in Salisbury NC with several of their 12 children.
