February 3, 2025
Genesis 5:1-5

This is the written account of Adam’s family line.
When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

New International Version (NIV)
The oldest person ever, whose age has been independently verified is Jeanne Calment (1875–1997) of France, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days.  What was her secret? For that matter, how can we live more years? The medical, food, and exercise communities are all offering advice about how lengthen our lives. Longevity is all the rage.

The writer of Genesis offers us a recap of the earliest genealogy. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. At the age of 130, Adam had a son in his own likeness, in his own image. After Seth was born, Adam lived another 800 years. I know what you are wondering:  were those 365-day years like ours? Why did they live so long? What was their secret? One possibility is that the first humans, created in God’s image lived longer because they were closer to the origin of life. God made them well. The world had fewer pathogens at the beginning. In the next chapter, we discover that God shortens the human lifespan to one hundred twenty years (6:3). 

Most anthropologists believe that life-expectancy is growing longer in our world. Enhanced medical care extends the lifespan of humankind. Medicine can lengthen the quantity of human life, but can it improve the quality of life? Do we want to live longer or better? What if the measure of our lives is not the number of years in our lives but the amount of life in our years? How are we doing?

Once Seth was born, people called on the name of the Lord. In the long genealogy of births and deaths, we will encounter one who walked with God. Years ago, D. L. Moody heard the evangelist Henry Varley say, “The world has yet to see what God can do in, through, and with a person fully consecrated to God.” Moody decided in that moment, “I will be that man.” How about us? There is still room for more. And John tells us, “the person who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). Let’s be those people!
Pray with me:
Father, thank you for giving us life. We did not have to live. Our presence in the world is a sure sign of your grace. Thank you for waking us up this morning. Now help us to know and do your will, so that every moment of every day of our lives is consecrated to you. If we live at all, let us live for you, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our Monday through Friday devotionals are in the book of Genesis this year. Join us for these devotionals as we learn together about our God and his Kingdom in the world.  

We also invite you to join us as we read through the Bible. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
2025 Bible Reading Plan
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