Strategies For Engineered Negligible Senescence Research Foundation

Well, it has finally happened.  Science, or rather a scientist, is predicting that immortality is possible.  That people will be able to be continually “repaired” and therefore, aging will be overcome.  At least according to the co-founder and chief science officer of “Strategies For Engineered Negligible Senescence Research Foundation (SENS),” located in California (where else?).

He also said that “people have this crazy concept that aging is natural and inevitable and I have to keep explaining that it is not.”  He describes the human body as being like a car - a machine with moving parts so I guess that he’s implying that parts can simply be altered somehow to not wear out.  Perhaps they can be replaced like car parts.  (At this point in my life I have a few parts that could stand replacing.)

Not being familiar with the word “senescence” I had to look it up and found that it refers to “growing old or aging.”  So I guess that “negligible senescence” is talking about “not growing old” or stopping the “aging process.”  This organization is also allied with the “Methuselah Foundation” the name of which also tells us a lot about the nature of this anti-aging study.

This little announcement about man becoming immortal brought about some thoughts regarding a subject that many don’t like talking about - “death.”  If you recall from your school studies, people have pretty much always been looking for the “fountain of youth,” haven’t they?  To somehow overcome the mortality of mankind. 

I proffer to you that all of those prior efforts plus this latest report by our misguided scientist fly directly in the face of God’s Word on the subject and the historical factualness of man’s existence.  I’m not going to go into the “historical” realm of the subject, except where it coincides with scripture, but we will look at some of the passages from the Bible regarding this subject.

First let us be reminded that there actually was a period during man’s existence when death was not present.  A time when man did not die.  However, that period was relatively short-lived and it existed when there were only two people on the earth - Adam and Eve.  When they violated the only law God had given them “death” became a part of man’s life on earth and no one escapes it.  (Gen. 2:17)

The Psalmist speaks of the inevitability of death by asking a rhetorical question in Psa. 89:48 where we read: “What man can live and never see death?  Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?” (ESV) The answer of course is - no one.  Man set “death” in motion, so to speak, and does not have the power to stop it.  Only God has that power and I submit to you that anyone claiming to have that power is treading on very dangerous ground there.

The patriarch Job had some very interesting things to say about “death.”  He referred to it metaphorically as “a house appointed to all living.”  (Job 30:23) Also from Job we find out that “death” is the great leveler.  In Job 3:17-19 we read that it is a place where the “prisoners and the jailers, the small and the great and the masters and the servants” are all equal.  No matter what one’s status is on earth, they cannot escape the grave.  To say it in Biblical symbolism, all will someday “ride the pale horse.”  (Rev. 6:8)

Now for the rest of our time and space, let’s look at the difference between “mortal death” and “eternal death.”  The passages already cited, plus many other available, show that “mortal death” is inevitable.  That it is, like birth, a part of people’s lives.  However, “eternal death” is not inevitable.

Recall that I mentioned that “death” is the great “leveler?”  Just as we read in Matt. 5:45 that God “sends the rain on the just and the unjust,” God has also sent “mortal death” on everyone.  The righteous and the unrighteous.  But, that is where the “leveling” stops. 

As we read in our opening passage from Heb. 9:27, after our “mortal death” comes “the judgment.”  From this point on, “eternal death” is not inevitable.  Even though the “righteous” went to their earthly grave just as did the “unrighteous,” they do not suffer the “second death.”  (Rev. 20:14)

Yes, the subject of “death” is sort of an unwanted subject to discuss, but think about this - as unpleasant as it is to think about “mortal death,” consider how unpleasant “eternal death” will be.  Especially when one doesn’t have to experience it. 

We have no choice, no avenue of escape when it comes to our earthly “death” but we certainly do when it comes to “eternal death.”  Simply put, that “avenue” has a name.  It is Jesus Christ and if you’ve never thought about it, that’s the name of the “narrow way” spoken of in Matt. 7:14.  In Him is the salvation from the “second death.”

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey