There are a lot of sayings and quotes going around that people claim are in the Bible. They quote them to one another, write songs about them, and argue violently if you point out that what they believe is not scriptural, not in the Bible and NOT God’s way.

Let’s take this one: There is a set time for us to die.

A song was written about this years ago, and people have been quoting that song ever since. People believe that there is a specific time for us to die and there’s nothing we can do about it. 

The problem with quoting others is that they are not always quoting the Bible, they’re misunderstanding or they are quoting a part that isn’t for us, today.

There are two places – Hebews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die” (or destined to die once as in ONE time).

And Ecclesiastes 3:2 – A time to be born, and a time to die (which is where the song came from). This one is talking the seasons of life – that people are born and people will die. 

People have taken both these scriptures and come to the conclusion that there is a specific day set aside for us to die. The scriptures actually only state the we will die once. It says nothing about a specific day or time. 

And if people quote Job 14:5 to you, they need to realize that this is Job talking negatively, not God speaking through him.

If you do just a little Bible study, you will find more scriptures that talk about long life. If God is for long life then He can’t be for your life being cut short, on a specific day and time.  

The first scripture in the Bible that came with a promise, Deuteronomy 5:16, states that IF you honor your parents you will live a long, full life (also Ephesians 6:1-3). Psalms 91:16 says He will satisfy you with long life.

There are other scriptures that talk about ways to prolong your life through obedience to God’s Word like Proverbs 13:3 that says if you watch what you say then you will have a long life (AND God’s plan will prosper in your hands).

With wisdom come the benefits of long life, riches and honor (Prov. 3:15-16)

Proverbs 3:1-2 talks about not forgetting what Gods Word tells you to do. Why? Because those Words, and your obedience to them, will prolong your life many years (and bring you peace and prosperity)!

Oh, and if you’re told about the scripture in Psalms 90:10 that states you live 70 or 80 years? Those scriptures were written about the Israelites while in the wilderness. It was NOT good news to them since it shortened their expected lifespan by many years.  

The Study Bible starts out this way in verse 9: “For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh.” They knew their lives had been shortened through disobedience and they were not going to be able to go into the Promised Land. Their children were, they weren’t.

The good news is that the scripture in Genesis 6:3 that states our years are to be 120 years has never changed throughout the entire Bible (other than ways to increase those years). That is the age God says we are to live to (healthy and active). The only thing that shortens people’s lives was and is disobedience.

(We’ll talk about that in another Musing. We don’t like to think we are disobedient but the words of our mouth are often contrary to the Word of God, even if we don’t realize it!)