Spiritual RealAge
If you brush and floss faithfully, you may be as much as 6.4 years younger than you think.
Men, if you suck down more than ten servings of tomato paste per week, you may be younger than you think you are. Women, if you’ve been battered by a divorce, you may be older than you think you are. If we brush and floss faithfully, we may be as much as 6.4 years younger than we think we are!
How can this be? Isn’t an age an age? As much as we may want to turn, twist and torque the hands of time, we can’t do it, can we? Perhaps we can. At least according to Dr. Michael Roizen, author of “RealAge,” a book with an age reduction program that promises to help us live and feel up to 26 years younger (New York: HarperCollins, 1999). The premise is really rather simple: there’s a difference between our calendar age and our biological age. Roizen’s RealAge program – splashed across a full-page ad in the New York Times, and now in the form of a book, audio cassette, computer program and web site – gives you a measurement system to calculate the biological age of your body. Here’s some examples:
- Swallow vitamins C and E daily for their antioxidant power, take off 6 years
- Eat breakfast every day, take off 1.1 years
- Build and maintain a network of friends, take off 2-30 years
On the other hand, if you want to age more quickly, your best bet is to live beyond your financial means, drink to excess or work at a job exposed to pollutants.
Nothing new to the Creator of our bodies. And nothing new to the Savior and Sustainer of our souls! What is true biologically is also true spiritually, you know (and now scientists are very excited that they’ve discovered how the two relate). In both directions, actually. Here’s what I mean. You are a 31-year old professional who is striving to be more mature and experienced at work, taking on projects at which your peers would shriek in fear. “I can do it,” you say to yourself – all the while the Bible calls for you to behave more like a child, well, at least as far as trust in God is concerned. Jesus explains, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). So, Mr. “I can do anything,” take your dose of humility, admitted weakness and simple trust in God today. You can’t do everything. He can. Live like it and see how much gets done.
On the other hand, perhaps, you feel so “behind” spiritually. You want to know the Bible better but it’s so intimidating. Besides, you can get by with your basic knowledge from confirmation class. No, it’s time to grow up. “Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17,18).
Immature people are naive, and easily fall victim to scams (“You mean if I give you my paycheck I’ll get rich in one week?”) Satan knows those who are spiritually immature as much as a lion can detect a weak, slow sheep. Beware, Mrs. “I don’t need to study my Bible today,” and take a walk with Jesus. Let him show you how grown up you really are when you lean on his eternal love, depend on his ageless wisdom, and trust in his timeless grace that will let you live for an eternity.
PRAYER: O eternal God, before the earth was created you existed – without beginning; afer this world will be destroyed you will rule heaven without end. Thank you for making my lifetime part of your forever love, and for extending my years to a heavenly eternity by your grace. Bless me today with comfort and courage to make my spiritual age different than my biological age, for my own good and for your glory. Amen.