7 rules I am following for a longevity lifestyle in line with biblical principles
I have been in the longevity field since 2014. First as a research scientist. At the time, I thought I was too smart to believe in God.
I grew up being told that religion was “the opium of the people”: something for the simple-minded.
I was given all kinds of claims about the bible, by people who had never read it, that painted a negative picture of it.
Plus, I cared more about being able to party and keep my vices than follow a way of life that I perceived as restrictive of my freedom.
Things changed for me in 2016. At a low point, about to lose my job and career, terrified to get kicked out of Canada, I found myself uttering a prayer as I was pedalling frantically on my bike.
Despite the contempt I had shown Him, He showed up for me. Three days later I had good news in my mailbox.
Coincidence? I don’t believe in those anymore.
How foolish was I. How so enamoured with the very things that were robbing me of life.
Lying, drinking, smoking, never committing, only living for myself, looking for love in all the wrong places, getting my sense of worth from work, and building an identity on what I was doing, instead of true character.
On Instagram, my life looked great : a cool job, travelling and visiting dream places, achieving great things, doing whatever I wanted,…
But the fruits don’t lie: I was so depressed, I cried myself to bed most nights. I was so lonely, I became anxious and hostile. Kinda dead inside. My life had no direction. I was but a cracked boat tossed by the winds.
True freedom only came when I recognized all of that and turned away from it.
One by one, I gave up on the superficial things that I had used for comfort, for crutches and for coping.
This answered prayer in August of 2017 was just the beginning of my relationship with Jesus. As I write this, it’s 2025. And now, my spiritual growth, development and spiritual practices are the most important things in my life. Everything else flows out of it.
As a follower of Christ, I have questioned this path that I am on.
Longevity…
Is it biblical to maximize health to live longer? Or am I striving instead of living according to God’s will?
So many people in this field seem to have an obsession for control, trying to create the perfect conditions, the perfect routine, measuring everything, living for their pursuit.
How many with an ego-driven motivation to outlive everyone else and engage in a relentless pursuit of prolonging their selves, using every mean necessary to the end, even if it means the blood of their children?
Is it pure exaltation of self?
Have health and fitness become an idol in my life?
As I pondered on these questions, as I searched the bible for answers, as I prayed for God to show me my heart, these 6 rules are what came up.
I pray that God keep revealing his truth, and that I can keep adding and refining to this, but today I am sharing the 6 rules of a longevity lifestyle in line with biblical principles as they are.
I invite you to let me know your thoughts as a christian, email me at info@drjihanefarrell.com
Here are the 7 rules I am following for biblical longevity
Rule #1 : I am submitted to a Sovereign God
We are not trying to live forever on this earth.
Eternal life is provided by receiving salvation given by the grace of God, eternal life is found in our abiding in Jesus Christ when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.
Eternal life does not come from anything that I do.
God gave us this life, God takes it away.
I am not in control of the beginning nor the end: He is, and I submit to his sovereign will.
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.- Job 1:21
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.
He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.- John 5:24
Rule #2 : I am a steward of this life and this body God gave me
My body is not my own, my life is not my own, my children are not my own, my resources are not my own. As followers of Christ, we are to steward our life and our body.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
- Psalm 139:13-16
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
With the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus calls us to multiply what we are entrusted with.
I believe the parable applies to everything God gives us: purpose, money, time, talents, spouse, children, life, years on this earth.
What I mean by multiplying time is to use time wisely by managing our energy.
What I mean by multiplying spouse is to build them up, support them in becoming who God has created them to be, and by working on bringing about more together than we would otherwise alone.
This applies to children too, and God calls us to have many.
Why would this command to be fruitful and multiply in Genesis 1:22 not apply to our health and our life?
We are called to live a long life full of health, vitality and energy.
The parable also teaches us that when we fail to steward our health, life will be taken away (Matthew 25:29).
I don’t see this as a threat, or a curse, but I see this simply as a statement of a ruling principle.
And when we appear in front of our master, he will expect that we give back with interest.
What does it mean for our health and our life?
I believe this means keeping ourselves from self-inflicted damage and disease.
I believe this means we don’t bury heath issues in the sand.
I believe this means we don’t hide from giving an account.
The good and faithful servant multiplies the years of his life.
The wicked and slothful servant is expected to at least return his body without having actively shortened his life.
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
- Matthew 25:29
We are called to set our body apart, it is holy ground. We are to treat it as such.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
1 Corinthians 6:19
A temple is a place of worship. It is erected for the glory of God.
It is pristine, well maintained, embellished, enriched, decorated, adorned, respected,
Not everything is allowed in. Not everyone gets access to it.
My body is a temple,
Not a dumpster in which I throw trash food all day long
I eat the food God intended for me, real whole foods. What I put in my body is an act of worship.
Not a junkyard where my garbage gets covered in the dirt of what I watch, listened to and engage in.
I am mindful of the media I consume, I don’t spend my time watching anxiety-inducing news, I don’t watch witch movies, horror movies, trash TV, I don’t use porn, I don’t listen to music that weakens my spirit, I guard my attention and my heart, being mindful of time I would spend on social media.
Not a dilapidated building that is falling apart because of an absentee landlord who’s leaving it to someone else to deal with it
I build up my body. I practice strength training. I maintain my muscle mass.
I watch my body fat, not because I am ashamed of my body, not because the world tells me I’m not beautiful, not because the doctor tells me to, not because my weight and looks determine my worth, but because I am responsible for my body and my health.
I keep my body in an ideal percentage body fat, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink in excess or chronically, because I do not want the burden of my health to fall on my children or to be carried by the health care system.
I am a steward of my body and my health.
Rule #3 I don’t make the pursuit of health & fitness a God. I have only one God and live by his word
I don’t value my practices and habits for greater health higher than God.
Fitness is not my savior. The gym is not my church. Gains are not lording over me.
It does not come in the way of a relationship with Christ, in the way of my family that we I am called to build up and to serve and it does not come in the way of living a well-rounded life.
We don’t sacrifice on the altar of health and fitness.
Our discipline in being healthy and physically fit and strong is a way to honor God.
Therefore honor God with your body.
- 1 Corinthians 6:20
I follow the first commandment and worship him alone. I also observe the rest of his commands, because being obedient is what gives us a long life. I believe that what adds to my life is from God.
You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
- Deuteronomy 5:33
The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
- Proverbs 10:27
For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
- Proverbs 9:11
Rule #4 I crucify the fleshly desires and pursue holiness
I recognize my desires. I decide to pluck out the desires of the flesh for foods that are not life-giving, substances that take me further away from God, as well as surface-levelled, temporary fixes that I am tempted to use to fulfill a deep yearning and need. I bring my need and desires to God.
I practice fasting, taking away substances, foods, or behaviors I may crave (too much time on social media, phone addiction, coffee,…).
I keep in mind that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
We choose to set our bodies apart: apart from the world, apart from average, apart from what robs us of life. We set our responses apart from fleshly drives: giving in to anger, lust, gluttony, neglect (including neglect of our body or our health), pride,… by practising spirit-led self-control.
God’s will is for you to be holy.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
- Proverbs 25:28
Rule #5 I don’t seek longevity because I deem myself worthy, but so that I can serve the Lord for longer and love my neighbors better
This is not a relentless work, the pursuit of an accomplishment that is self-serving or striving to outlive others.
Instead, it is about showing up to the highest level for God in order to serve and bless others.
Because of what Christ has called me to do, I will steward my health and body so I can do it better, longer and take it further - if it is his will - and faithfully multiply my purpose.
It’s not about how much life I can get, it’s about how much more I can give.
Although it is not clearly established, scholars estimate that Solomon was around 20 years old when he became king.
As he took over for his father David, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people well.
God gave him what he asked for AND long life.
Wisdom is more desirable than life. Wisdom precedes longevity.
In reading Solomon’s prayer, I come to believe that long life is given to us when we are devoted to serving the people around us, and God, well.
We can receive the gift of a long and rich life, not when we put our own life above other’s, but when we put our life in the service of others. When we show humility. And when we recognize our limitations and submit to God’s perfect will.
We receive the gift of a long life comes from living according to God’s word (rule #3).
And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.
And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.
- 1 King 3:7-14
Rule #6 As long as I am an instrument of God’s purpose, He will make me as strong in my 80s as I am in my 40s
Joshua and Caleb were the only two men of their entire generation allowed to enter the promised land.
They were in their 40s when God sent them to scout the land. They brought a good report and believed God would give them the victory, but were sent back to the wilderness for another 40 years because of the attitude of their fellow israelites.
Joshua and Caleb were in their 80s when they crossed the Jordan river. They were in their 80s and were military leaders, warriors and conducted a 5 year campaign to take the promised land.
They did not start fighting until they were in their 80s. They had to fight in their 80s to accomplish God’s will.
Most men in their 40s today are not at fit enough to fight for their lives.
Investing in our fitness and strength gives us the ability to fight the battles God sends us to, the courage to face the giants and the stamina to take down strongholds.
Caleb says :
“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness.
Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.”- Joshua 14:10—11
God revealed this to me when I studied the life of Joshua earlier this year.
Longevity is given by God for us to be a witness of his faithfulness. God made a promise to Caleb and because of it, Caleb had in his old age the strength of his youth.
I believe that by making ourselves instruments of God’s will, we could be as strong in our 80s as we are in our 40s.
Ai-created 85-year old Caleb in the promise land
Rule #7 We stop sacrificing our bodies to the idols of work, career, money or food and we commit it to the Lord.
My body is a living sacrifice, but to what? What is ruling me? What am I giving my time and effort to?
I commit my body to the Lord.
I honor the Lord by taking care of my body and building strength and physical fitness.
A strong man can protect his family and values better. A strong woman can work with eager hands and set about her work vigorously.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
- Romans 12:1
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
- Proverbs 31:17
