Grant Us A Heart Of Wisdom

Since turning 78 years a couple weeks ago I've been thinking much about longevity. My father died when he was 78 and three months. My maternal grandfather died in his early 70's and my paternal grandfather earlier than that of cancer. My paternal grandmother, however lived to be 101 and my maternal grandmother lived to 85. All this proves again that women live longer than us men, as the stats often confirm. And emphasizes that I've written about this earlier.

The oldest man in history whose age has been verified by modern documentation was Christian Mortensen (1882-1998, 115 years, 252 days). My own existential question is whether I will be granted a longer life than my father. Statistically, that seems possible. The U.S. Census Bureau view on the future of longevity is that life expectancy in the United States will be in the mid-80s by 2050 (up from 77.85 in 2006) and will top out eventually in the low 90s, barring major scientific advances that can change the rate of human aging itself, as opposed to merely treating the effects of aging as is done today.

That study suggests that my sons may well live to be over 100 and my grandsons well beyond that. Perhaps by the time that my grandsons are my age they will expect to live over 120 or more years. At this point, I do not know. It may be that in that far distant time they will find this article and have a good laugh at their grandfather's naivete.
Robert N. Butler has written about The Longevity Revolution:The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life. The  Library Journal vol. 133 iss. 1 p. 124 (c) 01/15/2008 review:

Until the early 20th century, few people made it to age 50; today, the average life expectancy is 77 and will continue to grow as science finds new ways to extend life, writes gerontologist Butler, founder of the National Institute on Aging and author of the Pulitzer Prize—winning Why Survive?: Being Old in America (1975). Longevity, however, is of little value in the absence of quality of life, he argues in this densely written series of discussions on the challenges of increasing longevity. Butler predicts more physical and mental illnesses and significant changes in family structure, economics, long-term care, and health care, as well as reviews the evolution of longevity, the politics of aging, and the threats of a longer life span. Despite the attraction of increased longevity, he is not convinced that a long life is always a better one. Charts, graphs, and tables, along with extensive bibliographies and detailed footnotes citing published and unpublished materials, support his points. This remarkable book demonstrates Butler's extensive knowledge of all aspects of aging. Recommended for large academic and aging collections. [See the Q&A with Butler in LJ 2/1/08.—Ed.]—Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland  

You can get this book from Amazon. 

I agree with Dr. Butler. Longevity is of little value in the absence of quality of life. Here's how the Bible says it.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:1, 9-12).

What is a heart of wisdom? The Bible also answers that question.

"O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Psalm 39:4). 

That is basic. We need to know that no matter how long we may live, we are all under God's wrath because of our sinful disobedience. So we join Moses to pray for a heart of wisdom. Solomon wrote in the Book of Proverbs the following about wisdom:

. . . for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed (Proverbs 3:14-18).

The wise man knows in his heart that our Lord and God has granted us a way to escape the wrath we so obviously deserve. This He has done for us by sending us His Son Jesus. The Apostle Paul calls Jesus God's wisdom as he writes,

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:17-31).

Getting back to my grandchildren, I pray that they too will not only live long lives, but also wise ones. And I pray that in the Great Day of the resurrection we will all join hands to praise our God forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:10-26).