The Bible says Adam was 930 years old when he breathed his last breath. Considering the average person takes 17,280 breaths a day that means Adam breathed 5,865,696,000 times after God knelt in the grass and breathed into him the breath of life. His heart beat 29,328,480,000 before it wore out. It took a long time for that perfect body to run down. Originally it was designed to run for an infinite amount of breaths and beats, but sin finally took its toll.
Those are staggering numbers compared to our statistics. However, they are nothing when we accept the gift promised in John 3:16. I would not be surprised if Adam was anxious to let go. Old age had taken its toll. Nothing could be worse than eternal life in our present state of decline. There comes a time when death is a blessing and life is a curse. Eternal life with eternal vitality is what Jesus offers, otherwise heaven would be hell. Ephesians 2 tells us God gives us eternal life so for the coming ages He might continually shower us with gifts. It is difficult not to be anxious.
The longer we live on earth the more underwhelming it can be. The longer we live with Jesus the more overwhelming it will be. It is difficult not to tell everyone we can when something good happens to us. It will be impossible not to sing His praises. It is no wonder Revelation 7 describes a numberless multitude around the throne singing, “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 8,2008
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574