The value of money. . .

Jesus asked who could add an hour to the length of your life.  Apparently the ultra wealthy are willing to bet they can.  Maybe it is only a better 20 years of health and well-being before death shuts them down or maybe it is an additional 50 years or so.  The Wall Street Journal had a story on it a couple of months ago and it stuck in my mind.  I guess it is big business.  Some $5Billion was spent in pursuit of longevity deals  and venture capital firms.  With some 200 start ups and even non-profits joining the race in pursuit of the dream, this is not a little thing.  Small in comparison to AI money but still significant.  It is an alchemist's wish come true and some $12.5Billion has been raised to continue the effort.  America's wealthiest investors are kicking in for their share of the fountain of youth.

Whatever the value of money, it cannot do what the investors are hoping it will do.  It seems that money cannot even improve daily life or else the rich would not know depression and anxiety -- which they do in numbers higher than the poor.  But the prospect of spending our way into a longer life is also pretty iffy.  For a long time the lifespans were continuing to grow -- what with better food, better medicine, and better quality of life.  But not so much anymore and even a few declines.  Plus it is no guarantee that if a few more years are possible overall you could count on them for yourself.  Statistics are notoriously unfair and do not provide for everyone in the number.  Part of me wishes that what I am writing was not true but money is just as incapable of adding onto your life as anything else.  

Tone up, lose weight, improve health, slow down aging, and make life better and longer -- these are the goals.  Perhaps you can post-pone death for a while and even enjoy better health on your way there but we all know that death is a cruel taskmaster and will not forget you.  All of this proves then that Jesus and Scripture are correct.  Death is the enemy above all enemies.  Christ is still the answer.  The down side in all of this, of course, is that we are still setting our sights too low.  Postponing death or improving some of life is not a ba thing but it is a great deal less than what Jesus is offering.  The fearful flesh in all of us would rather have more of what we know than anything that promises to be better but you have to trust it to get it.  That is always the rub.

The Gospel is not irrelevant -- not if people are willing to pony up big money on the possibility of a few more years or a few better years.  We have a real promise to give to those who know how fragile life can be.  We have a real message for people trying to hedge their bets against an unknown tomorrow.  True, it was easier to sell people on the idea of heaven when this life was harder and even more uncertain.  I have walked the cemeteries and seen how many families lost children and moms and dads at a young age.  Those sorrows are more hidden today but they are still there.  In the midst of all our pain and weakness, we have a God who offers real consolation and real strength.  Even death is not too big for Him to overcome.  Slick marketing will surely help raise capital from investors but the Gospel is spoken into the hearts of people and the Holy Spirit is the power of faith.  

A few months ago there was a really big pay out at the lottery.  $1.8Billion.  Wow.  Even accounting for taxes that is a lot of money.  Imagine how deep the yearning is within those who bought tickets knowing that their odds stood about a 1 in a billion.  What we won't do for something that has zero chance of us seeing the big check!  Wow.  And every Sunday we are treated to the richest treasures in the universe.  God comes to us with mercy to answer every sin and shame and grace sufficient for all our needs.  How do you answer the longing in people for a little more today with the gift of a real tomorrow?  That has been the question before every age of Christianity.  No short cuts.  Hearing believe; believing life.