J.I. Rodale was the founder and publisher of Prevention magazine, which promotes disease prevention rather than trying to cure it after it occurs. He was a health enthusiast and promoted organic gardening. He urged people to eat whole grains and unrefined sweets, to avoid nicotine and caffeine and fatty foods. He once said, “I’m going to live to be 100, unless I’m run down by some sugar-crazed taxi driver.”

On June 8, 1971, at the age of 72, Rodale was a guest on the Dick Cavett show. He attended an early evening taping for the late night broadcast. During his interview, Rodale said that he had “never felt better in his life!” and made quips like “I’m in such good health that I fell down a long flight of stairs yesterday and I laughed all the way” and “I’ve decided to live to be a hundred”.

After his interview, Rodale remained onstage and was seated on a couch beside the next guest. Rodale suddenly made a “snoring sound” and slumped over. Cavett initially believed that he was feigning disinterest for comedic effect. But that was not the case. He had suffered a fatal heart attack. That episode never aired. Fifty years ago people understood that to be the right thing to do. If it happened today, it would be available for download and viewing almost immediately.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

There is nothing wrong with trying to take care of the body God has given you. That is part of being a good steward of what God has entrusted to your care. But if you are putting all your eggs in that basket, you are missing the point. This world will not last forever, and your time here is limited. Cheryl and I have been starkly reminded of this in the last six weeks with the death of six of our family and friends. Some of had over 30,000 days, some just over 20,000, one less than 12,000 and one less than 400. Our days here on earth are numbered.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Our hope in Christ reminds that there is something more. Our days here are numbered, but Jesus came to fulfill the promise God made immediately after sin entered this world, that He would provide a rescue for us to escape what our sins earned us. Jesus came and took the punishment our sins deserved. He earned our forgiveness with His death. He opened heaven by rising again on the third day. That victory belongs to all who put their faith and confidence in Him. We trust Him and cling to His promise of entering life in His presence which has no end, where we will not need to be concerned with numbering our days.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.