Death and dying? Whats the answer?

Question

Today I went to funeral because a middle aged man 55 years old who died of a heart attack on saturday. He was healthy, strong, fit and still quite young. He went out for a walk last weekend when he had a massive heart attack. It killed him instantly. It was shocking to everyone. He was a very prominent and well-respected man person in the community.

Today at his funeral I was sitting in my car and I saw an elderly man(around 70) who was standing outside the church having a smoke break. He was overweight, old, looked unhealthy---yet he was alive. I guess he has smoked most of his life.

What I couldnt figure out was how come he had bad habits, in "ok" health, never exercises, and he gets to live? While the younger man exercises, eats right, has good habits, and he dies young? Is it in our genes or DNA at what time we will die?

Maybe if that younger man was a smoker and didnt take care of his health he would have died a lot of sooner. Maybe 40? Maybe his diet, exercise, and good habits kept him alive until 55? And suppose that old man who was smoking could live to be 100...but now that he has been a life long smoker and takes poor care of his health he may only live to be 80? Still a long life according to the lifespan.

Do we all have a set-point death date predetermined at birth? Is it in our genes to let us know how long we wil live? DNA? Can we alter our genes through diet and exercise to help us live longer?

Sometimes I think it is pointless to take care of myself and just live my life and eat the foods I enjoy(even junk). I can die anytime because nobody is immune to death.

As George Carlin said..."eat right, exercise, die anyway."

What does everyone think? Are we predetermined to die at a certain date despite how well we take care of ourselves? Or can we alter our death date and live longer through diet and exercise?

***NOTE--THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO FREAK ACCIDENTS LIKE CAR CRASHES OR GETTING RUN OVER BY A CAR. This is strictly a biological question.

Answer 1

"Death and dying? Whats the answer?"

Yes.

Answer 2

My nanna died last mnth n she was healthy. I smoke and I dno why im not dead. If you ask me, its just meant to happen and thats life. It sucks ino. Try not to be sad. Chin up :)

Answer 3

I wish I had the answer...it would be neat to have a test developed to tell our 'DNA age', and know when death will come for us

Some people would say "Let us eat and drink,...for tomorrow we die!" (Bible, U2).  I think it takes maturity to realize that we really have no clue how much time we have left, and to try our hardest to make the most of this very moment we are living in (easier said then done, I know...)

Answer 4

Death and dying equal to the end of our life.Both are so common and it is part of our life.Who live and end depend on our karma.Smoke or not is not the only question that causes death.Our food we take ,the air we breathe,our working environment,life styles etc will partially push us fast towards death.

Answer 5

its more like, we r born to die ....

but you gotta be happy and peaceful while you are alive...i mean you don't want to have health related abnormalities that would make you uncomfortable you know like frequent doctor visits, pain stuff that are inconvenient.

eat right, exercise avoid stuff so you live the best possible life you can....if at all it exists

Answer 6

even as the hairs on your head are numbered so are the days u will live barring "freak accidents and murder" as you said u will only live so long when God calls your soul to Him it is going no matter what u do

your biological explanation could very well be true but another possibility is that the deceased man has already done here what God intended him to do and God perhaps said enough u have done enough on earth come to Me now i have need of you here  

Answer 7

We are each only given a certain amount of time to live by God.  God's goal is that we realize that each and every day is so vastly precious because  we will never get it back.  When this day is over, we have one less day left to live.  It's your life.  What are you doing with it?

Answer 8

Great question. I think death is something we all think about quite a bit.

Some of us will die young, others middle aged, others in old age. Only God knows for sure.

As far as predestined, I personally think that we aren't necessarily predestined. For example, I can have great genetics, but smoke life a freight train, shove drugs down my throat, and never exercise. I probably wouldn't live very old.

On the other hand, if I take care of myself, I have a better chance of living to be at least middleaged or old (assuming my genes don't pull some crazy cancer card on me, or I don't get hit by a bus).

So I think we can control this, even the bible indicates that by following God's word & living a good life, you can extend your time on earth. It states this several times, especially in the Old Testament when he is giving instructions to the Israelites.

So we aren't predestined (in my opinion), but at the same time, God does know future/past/present. So He already knows how we will die, and at what age. Kind of like if you created a DVD with actors. You have the script, but the actors don't have a clue. You can fast forward, rewind, etc.

So again, God knows about it, but we have at least some control over it as well. And yes, we do all have to die someday, but don't fear it. It is like fading away into sleep. And the next thing you know, peace.

Just like people who have near death experiences. It is often interesting to hear what happens. They all say basically the same thing: they see a light, feel the presence of God (or evil depending on them), and every emotion & sense is greatly intensified.

One person put it interestingly: they said how when you have a dream, it feels real. But then you wake up and you realize it was fake and didn't seem so real.  But their experience with near death was the opposite. They said it seemed so vivid, and so real. When they came back, this world seemed fake!

Answer 9

You have a lot of control about when you're likely to die. Eating properly, staying active, looking after your health...all contribute to a longer life, PROBABLY.

The important point is that there will always be statistical anomalies.  Perfectly healthy (apparently) people drop dead at 55 or younger.  Someone who smokes for 50 years might still be rattling around.  But these are exceptions to the general case.

You can get a rough idea about how long you're likely to live by seeing how old your parents and grandparents all lived.  If you take care of yourself, you're likely to reach that age.  If you're fat and/or smoke and so on, you're drastically going to cut down your time.

You might know some old smokers, but how many old fat people do you know?

In summary, there's certainly no pre-destined time you'll die... and living a healthy life, though it doesn't guarantee it, significantly elevates your chances for a longer life.  

Answer 10

Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit.

God's own time is the very best of times.

In him living, moving, we exist, as long as he wills. In him shall we die at the right time, when he wills.

In peace and joy do I depart,

As God doth will it;

Consoled am I in heart and mind,

Calm and quiet.

As God me his promise gave:

My death is changed to slumber.

Agent Smith says: We are all living on that "dash" that appears on the tombstone bewteen the dates. This is our life: -

Spend it wisely.

God love you!

Answer 11

I personally believe we die once we have learned the lessons we are meant to learn in this particular lifetime.  This explains both early deaths, like you described, and much later deaths.  It isn't our genes or anything biological, I think, in a way, it is 'predetermined', but that we (as spirits) decide which lessons we need to learn and when we have, we die.  How long it takes us to learn those lessons determine how long a life we live and, sometimes, even, how we die.

Answer 12

death is an expression of God's sovereign will. i will die, you will die, none of us know the hour, even children sometimes have to take an unprecedented step into the next life. health does not determine when and how we die, though it contributes. God knows when He has willed to call us to Him one last time. death is a very seemingly random thing yet it is established within God's mind from start to finish. -the soul that sins is sure to die.

job 40:2 Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it. Then Job answered the LORD and said, Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more. Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said, Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me. Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His? Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low. Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, And tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them in the dust together; Bind them in the hidden place. Then I will also confess to you, That your own right hand can save you.

hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 samuel 20:3 Yet David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, THERE IS HARDLY A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH."

Answer 13

It's both, but I think genes play a larger role that people often like to admit. My grandfather is almost 80 and smokes a pack a day. He's still sharp and strong. He eats bacon and pork steaks all the time (He fries bacon everyday). His cholesterol and blood pressure are both good. He also gets a lot of physical exercise, he's always on the move. His father drank lots of booze and smoked a pipe and lived til 86, I believe. As you say, he may have lived longer if he hadn't.

I really don't know, but I think some people are genetically prone to get certain diseases and these diseases are more quickly triggered by poor choices.

Just my anecdotal BS.  

Edit: I've smoked since about 16, chewed tobacco two years previously. I know I feel better when I don't, it's a noticeable difference. I've quit and come back to it 3 or 4 times now. I've always had bronchial and sinus problems, so I believe that I'm not genetically strong enough to live long with this poor choice (or possibly I've got an environmentally induced respiratory weakness, I had the bad lungs before I started smoking. Smart move huh?). I must quit for good. It's easy enough to quit, but harder to keep stressors from triggering the compulsion.

Yeah, just live, but I'd have a healthier life without the habit.

Answer 14

Its just coincidental.

My dad is nearly 93. He has never had any serious health problem. The same for my mom, in her late 80's and the only health problem was a broken leg from a fall.

Me and my siblings range from 55-61. All 4 of us have had serious health problems. 3 have had cancer, 1 brain aneurysm, 1 heart valve replaced and a pace maker. 2 of us have had several close calls in industrial accidents. We just happened to be in the right place. Just a few feet separated me from 3 friends who were killed.

Timing and coincidence.  

Answer 15

This should then be in biology. Well it must have been the heat.