# 63 Some Theories About the Long Lifespans of the Adamic Era

The Book of Genesis Day 63 Ge 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. Still another standout feature of this genealogy is the longevity of men! Do the math. The AVERAGE lifespan of these men (excluding Enoch) was 912 years! That’s a lot of birthday candles! How is it possible for men to live that long? There are a couple of theories about the longevity of man, and one of them is what I call the “greenhouse effect,” and it goes back to Ge 1:7, “Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.” This account of creation portrays a canopy of water above the sky (firmament) in addition to the waters below. The theory is that this “canopy” of water caused conditions on earth to be like those of a greenhouse, and this greenhouse effect was very beneficial to the health of men. This canopy of water would also account for the tremendous amount of water released to flood the entire earth in the days of Noah. This canopy of water was completely depleted and never replaced after the flood because God promised Noah, never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood.” (Gen 9:11) It is theorized that with the canopy gone, the greenhouse protection was gone and the longevity of man was greatly reduced. We will see that drastic reduction in the genealogy recorded in Genesis 11, where people are now only living for around 200 years, and of course by the time David arrives on the scene, that average lifespan is down to the 70 to 80 degree range. Ps 90:10 “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,” Still another theory is that it took some time for the effects of sin to get a foothold in the world and shorten the lifespan of men. Um, I don’t think that one even requires a response. Sin doesn’t dilly dally, just ask Abel how long it took for sin to affect him! I think the best answer to this longevity question is God! God determines how long we have breath in our body, and if he wants men to live into the 900’s, that’s His prerogative. This longer life span certainly helped speed up the process of populating the world, or “filling the earth,” as God had commanded in Gen 1:28! In the manner of lifespan, all we need to know is found in Job 14:5, which says, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. And in Ps 139:16 we read, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” The real question for all of us is not, “why did people live to be 900,” but rather what do we do with the time that God has granted us? Noah spent his 950 years in a relationship with God and he was blessed with long life on earth, but more importantly eternal life in heaven where 950 years is not even a drop in the bucket! Ps 90:12 reminds us: “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” A heart of wisdom is only gained through saving faith in Jesus: Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” What kind of life? Everlasting! That beats the snot out of 900 years doesn’t it? Reflect: Who is the oldest person you know? How would your life change, if you remembered Ps 90:12? Do you find any comfort in Job 14:5 and Ps 139:16 Pray: Lord, we will never understand the measuring stick of the number of years we or others are granted on this earth. We trust that if it matters, it will be made clear one day in heaven. Help us to redeem our time wisely that we may spend it in eternal bliss with You in heaven!