Are we the first generation to not die? This is the question, and the ethos of a man that believes he can avoid death. Streaming now on a major platform is the documentary of one man’s efforts to rejuvenate and extend his life. He believes he can escape death by taking control of it, spending millions of dollars annually on himself to achieve his goal of avoiding death.

Is this good news? Are we on the brink of a medical breakthrough that will allow us to avoid death? Has man finally become the master of his fate, and commander of his soul?

My mind goes to Psalms 2:4, “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord holds them in derision.” God mocks those who try to occupy the throne, and claim self-authority over their lives. We know that the Proverbs speak of this person and call him a fool. The fool in his folly earnestly thinks he is the Sovereign over his life. Anyone reading this will probably agree that it is folly to think we are in control of our lives.

So how does the Christian look at life and the future? How do we avoid assuming that we are in control, yet acknowledging that God is sovereign? It starts with understanding that we are the creature, and God is the creator! Since God created us, it’s His plan and His design for our lives. We must see life through the lens of scripture, where God has laid out His plan for our lives.

Hebrews 11:13 says that we are strangers and travelers in this world. This is not our home. We are merely passing through to our final, eternal destination. This keeps in check our joy and satisfaction for things that are temporal. The perfect (fill in the blank) that we think brings us ultimate happiness, is put into proper perspective when we see it isn’t the ultimate.

Mark 8:36 says, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world but lose their soul?” Why would anyone chase what is temporary, at the cost of what is eternal?

Imagine blowing bubbles with your child on the driveway and you see a car careening towards you. No one would try to protect the bubbles at the expense of their child. You’d drop the bubbles and grab your child and pull them to safety. So why do we hold and embrace tightly what is merely fleeting? Why do our affections and joy rest on that which is fading? Would it not be better to see that our heart affections should rest solely on Christ?

Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.” We will all die. Even the fool in his folly that thinks he can bio-hack his life and live forever. Judgement awaits us on the other side. If we are resting on our own merits, then we will be judged accordingly and our destiny will be hell.

But if we are trusting in the works of Christ for our salvation, we are assured of our eternal rest. Hebrews 10:21-23 says, “Since we have a great priest over the household of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

If we are resting in Christ, we will see life as a blessing and be thankful for it. But we will hold it loosely knowing that it can be taken away. Our confidence is not in having (job, money, health, house, etc.), but rather in knowing that God will faithfully provide for all our needs.

Our joy is in the One who has provided it. We can look to the future with confidence, trusting God for wisdom as we make this journey through life, and praising Jesus Christ, our faithful elder brother.