Former Blackout Artist

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

This past week, John Alfred Tinniswood, from Northwest England, was confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the oldest living man in the world at 111 years. The man who previously held the record, Juan Vicente Pérez, died on April 2nd, 2o24 at the age of 114.

When asked about his longevity, Tinniswood credited moderation as the key to a healthy life. He claims that he never smokes, rarely drinks, and follows no special diet, other than splurging once a week on his favorite dinner of fish and chips. “If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much — if you do too much of anything — you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said. “But it’s pure luck. You either live long or live short, and you can’t do much about it.”

I think most of us agree that there’s an obvious connection with moderation and longevity. It stands to reason that people who take care of themselves tend to live longer. But if taken literally, some might disagree with the notion that luck plays a bigger part in it. That would seem to suggest that God, the Author and Creator of life, has no control over the very thing He created.

It’s also worth remembering that, as far as life is concerned, longevity doesn’t always equal quality. When we hear of someone passing away who is (by today’s standards anyway) very old, it just seems natural for us to try to offer words of comfort by stating the obvious: “Well, at least they lived a full life.” I’m guilty of this, as I’m sure you have been too. And while it might be true that they lived a full life, we wonder, what was it full of? Was it full of tragedy and heartbreak? Illness and Loneliness, perhaps? Or were there more periods of joy, peace, and prosperity?

Having lived a full life suddenly doesn’t appeal to many of us if much of it was spent in suffering. We remember the apostle Paul writing about this to the church in Philippi and saying to them, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” In other words, Paul knew there was something better awaiting him on the other side of his last breath in this life. No more being persecuted and flogged, no more being shackled to a dank and dark prison cell. But he also knew that the longer he lived, the more opportunities he would have to share the gospel with others. I think we all agree that what Paul willingly endured for Christ is part of what makes him one of the most beloved writers in all of Scripture.

But did Paul live a full life? Biblical scholars suggest that he died in Roman captivity around the age of 60. Maybe back in the first century that was considered old. But by today’s standards, we consider that to be a life cut very short, by at least a dozen or so years anyway.

But when we measure Paul’s life by the’ Gospel standard Jesus communicated in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” there’s a definite quality being communicated. It is an inseparable quality that promises immeasurable longevity, a quality that comes from knowing Christ not only in the here and now, but spending eternity with him in heaven. It is a quality that truly transcends whatever worldly value humans might foolishly try to measure against it in exchange for the fullness of this life.

So while I wish Mr. Tinniswood many more years of fish and chip dinners, my greatest wish for him is that he knows, like Paul knew, that there is something far greater awaiting him on the other side of this life. I can think of few things that would be more tragic than being given that many years and still not know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.

What about you? Do you have this life Jesus speaks of having to the full?