The Reason We Need Faith
Ngoc Huynh Bich · Jan 3, 2025
This devotional explores the importance of faith in life, not only to live long but to live meaningfully and glorify God's name. Through the example of the world's oldest woman and scientific research, the article shows that faith provides social support, clear life purpose, and both spiritual and physical health. As Christians, we are called to live with a clear purpose: to serve God, serve others, and be a light that testifies to the grace and power of God in our lives.
# Why We Need Faith
A longevity research organization, LongeviQuest, has identified several factors that can help increase lifespan: First, daily physical activity such as long walks; Second, taking supplements and eating bananas every morning; Third, the lactic acid bacteria found in Calpis may benefit longevity—epidemiologist and nutrition expert Tim Spector notes that fermented foods are generally very good for gut health because they increase the diversity of bacteria in the digestive system.
However, the world's oldest living woman today, Inah Canabarro Lucas, a nun living in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is 116 years and 212 days old as of January 6th. Ms. Lucas is one of only three confirmed living people born before 1910. Living to 116 years old is extremely rare—an analysis by the Pew Research Center using U.S. Census survey data from last January showed that only 0.03% of the U.S. population is over 100 years old. Mrs. Lucas says the secret to her long life is thanks to God. She has said, "He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything." (1)
Indeed, researchers at LongeviQuest have noted that long-lived people in Latin America are typically people of faith. A 2018 study by researchers at Ohio University examining 1,600 obituaries showed that people whose obituaries mentioned religious activities lived an average of 10 years longer than those whose obituaries did not mention religion. Researchers believe this may be because religion provides people with social support and opportunities to do charitable work. These are good deeds of faithful people, just like Christians serving God and serving others today around the world. Thanks be to God!
Human life is not only about living long, but importantly about living well—both spiritually and physically—because God's Word says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23). As Christians, we have a clear purpose for living—to live for God, to please God, to live according to His Word, and to glorify His Name. Therefore, we must live as living witnesses to the power, love, and eternal grace of Jesus Christ that overflows through each of us. God's Name must shine forth, be glorified, and made known to all people about Him—He alone is the Redeemer of the souls of all who believe and accept Him; there is no other, as the apostle Peter testified, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The salvation of Jesus Christ, eternal life in Heaven is a priceless gift that God has given us—always hold onto it with steadfast trust in God! Thank you to God the faithful who has given us a gift that no one else can give us; thank you to God who loves us, cares for us, and leads us into a New Year full of blessings, with aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters, friends, and loved ones joining us in carrying out His Great Commission! We pray to God, the Almighty, All-knowing, and Omnipresent, to be with us in this New Year; we ask Him to help us have zeal to serve Him and to serve others when we are able to do so, in the grace and opportunities God provides; we ask Him to help us live as a light for those who have not yet seen the Way, the Truth, and the Life that He has prepared for them; we ask His Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds so that they may see Jesus Christ and humble themselves to believe in Him before He returns! "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah!" (Psalm 150:6), amen!
Happy New Year comes, thanks be to God, You have saved us from sin's heavy load, Eternal life—a gift beyond all price, Only He grants to all who believe in Christ! Rejoicing to live in God's love so true, With steady steps, dedicating all we do, Trusting, obeying, and serving in His way, Praying His Name will be glorified always!
(1) Serafina Kenny, "The world's oldest woman says God is the secret to her longevity. Her predecessor credited bananas. Jan 6, 2025, 11:13 AM CST, https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-oldest-person-longevity-tips-2025-1 https://www.newsbreak.com/share/3744803799669-the-world-s-oldest-woman-who-died-aged-116-and-her-successor-shared-their-very-different-longevity-secrets-from-bananas-to-god
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