The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
How does one prolong life? This has been a question for many years. A new discovery is strengthening the possibility of adding up to 10 years to a person’s life. Protein molecules called GSK-3 are responsible for shortening life. According to Wikipedia, they serve as regulatory agents. New research shows that these molecules could be inhibited by the use of Lithium. An experiment done on fruit flies extended their lives by 16 percent.
This latest research is good news because it could not only extend life but also delay the onset of illnesses associated with old age, but there is another side to consider. Who or what is the determining factor behind how long a person lives? God has already determined how many days a person will live as stated in Psalm 139:16. “Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
Since I am not a medical expert I will not begin to even try to make sense out of the interaction of GSK-3 with all the elements involved in extending life, but people have done many things to shorten their lives, like not eating right, smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, developing addictions, and suicide. Probably every person would like to live longer, but the real question is how will each individual spend their life? Psalm 90:12 encourages us to “number our days, that we may present to God a heart of wisdom.” And what is wisdom? In the words of Proverbs 1:7, it is the “fear of the Lord.”
Prolonging life, whether it is done by impeding the process of GSK-3, or any other means, is missing the point. Lengthening life without any purpose to live is of no value. Hopelessness and suicide have reached an epidemic level worldwide. The World Health Organization recently projected that by the year 2020, someone on the planet will take their life every 20 seconds! So, instead of coming up with ways to lengthen life, should not the focus be on preventing the shortening of life because people have no purpose to live? Jesus said in John 10:10, “…I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” Besides having a meaningful life on earth, Christians already have the hope of an eternal existence in heaven, as promised in I John 5:13.
If you not a Christian, consider having a personal relationship with your Creator, God, by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Then you will have a reason to live, no matter how many days you have left. You can make a decision today: Are you going to live with the purpose, peace, and forgiveness that God has to offer, or follow meaningless and materialistic goals and pursuits that can lead to only hopelessness, with no eternal value?
