Life Expectancy 预期寿命
Dexu Xia
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by. Psalm 90:4
In 1990, French researchers had a computer problem: a data error when processing the age of Jeanne Calment. She was 115 years old, an age outside the parameters of the software program. The programmers had assumed no one could possibly live that long! In fact, Jeanne lived until the age of 122.
The psalmist writes, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). This is a figurative way of saying that whatever age we live to, even to the age of Jeanne Calment, our lives on earth are indeed limited. Our lifetimes are in the sovereign hands of a loving God (v. 5). In the spiritual realm, however, we’re reminded of what “God time” really is: “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by” (v. 4).
And in the person of Jesus Christ “life expectancy” has been given a whole new meaning: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). “Has” is in the present tense: right now, in our current physical moment of trouble and tears, our future is blessed, and our lifespan is limitless.
In this we rejoice and with the psalmist pray, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).
What worries do you have about your life and its limits? How are you comforted by the presence of Jesus?
Loving God, sometimes this life is hard, but—even so—I sing for joy in Your provision for me. Satisfy me today with Your unfailing love.
在祢看来，千年如已过的昨日。—诗篇90篇4节
在1990年，法国研究人员面临一个电脑问题。他们在处理珍妮 · 卡尔门（Jeanne Calment）的年龄资料时，出现了数据错误。当时珍妮的年龄是115岁，超出了电脑软件设定的年龄上限，因为设计人员并没有预期人的寿命会那么长！其实，珍妮后来一直活到122岁。
诗人写道：“我们一生的年日是七十岁，若是强壮可到八十岁”（诗篇90篇10节）。这是一种比喻性的说法，表明无论我们活到几岁，就算活到像珍妮 · 卡尔门的岁数，我们在世上的岁月仍然十分有限。我们一生的日子都在慈爱上帝的掌管之中（5节），但在属灵的领域里，我们要记得上帝的时间与你我的不同，在上帝看来，“千年如已过的昨日”（4节）。
同时，在耶稣基督里，人类的预期寿命也有了全新的意义，因为“信子的人有永生”（约翰福音3章36节）。这里的“有”是现在时态，表示现在就有，在我们目前肉身承受苦难与泪水之时就有永生了，而且我们的未来是有福的，在永恒里我们的生命是无限的。为此我们欢欣喜乐，并像诗人那样向上帝祷告说：“求祢使我们早早饱得祢的慈爱，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。”（诗篇90篇14节）
人生的困境和有限让你有什么忧愁挂虑？
耶稣的同在如何使你得安慰？
慈爱的上帝，人生虽有苦难，但祢的供应从未短缺，
因此我要喜乐欢唱，
求祢使我今日饱得祢那无尽的爱。