How Can the Quest for Longer Life SUCCEED?

Where Should We Put Our Trust?

Man has a natural desire to live, not die. Therefore, scientific progress in this domain is readily hailed and associated with high hopes. But so far that is no hard evidence that DHEA, kinetin, melatonin, hGH, or any other substance can actually retard aging in humans. Skeptics fear that manipulating the telomerase in cells will do nothing but create potential cancer cells. And the use of nanotechnology and cryonics is still more science fiction than reality.

Science has contributed to, and may still contribute to, a longer and healthier life for some, but it will never give anybody eternal life. Why not? Simply put, it is because the root cause of aging and death lies beyond the realm of human science..

The Root Cause of Aging and Death

Most scientists agree that aging and death seem somehow programmed into our genes. The question is: When , how and why did they enter into our genetic code, as it were?

The Bible give us the simple answer-even though it does not present it in terms of genetics or DNA. Romans 5:12 reads: "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned."

The first man, Adam, had the prospect of living forever. His body was designed with the necessary faculties to live and enjoy eternal life. Eternal life was conditional though. Adam had to collaborate with and be obedient to the Source of life, his Creator, in order to maintain his life perpetually. -Genesis 2:31; 2:15-17.

Adam chose to disobey the Creator, in effect, Adam claimed that man is better off ruling himself independent of God. Thus he sinned. From that point onward, it was as if his genetic code was altered. Instead of passing on an everlasting life as an inheritance to his offspring, Adam transmitted sin and death. -Genesis 3:16, 19; Romans 6:23.

Next time: The True Hope

Watchtower, 1999