Ridiculous picture, true saying. Truthfully, nobody looks that bad. Human beings are born, grow old and die; this is our destiny. But, for the Christian, there is far more to the story. We have been born again (John 3:1-6; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 6:1-11). Our future involves the resurrection of our dead body into a new spiritual one (1 Corinthians 15:1-22). We have HOPE that because Jesus was raised from the dead, so will we be. In the meantime, we obey the teaching of Jesus and his apostles found in the Bible on a daily basis and long for a better, truly perfect life in heaven. But, living the Christian lifestyle is not an easy thing, for the world will throw every thing against us that it can to destroy our spiritual lives. As I think on this, a chapter of the Bible comes to mind…
2 Corinthians 4 ( World English Bible )
2Co 4:1, Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.
2Co 4:2, But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3, Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
2Co 4:4, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
2Co 4:5, For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;
2Co 4:6, seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”* who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7, But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
2Co 4:8, We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
2Co 4:9, pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
2Co 4:10, always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2Co 4:11, For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12, So then death works in us, but life in you.
2Co 4:13, But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”* We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
2Co 4:14, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.
2Co 4:15, For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16, Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17, For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18, while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Though our way may be difficult at times, we have in this earthly vessel of flesh, the seal of the Holy Spirit as a promise (Acts 2:38) and the knowledge that we have obeyed the glorious gospel of our savior, Jesus Christ. So, as time passes and we come to the golden years of our existence, we have comfort and encouragement to know that though we are outwardly decaying, yet we are being spiritually renewed on a daily basis (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 above). This knowledge will help us as Christians see our physical existence for what it really is; the co-existence of a born-again spiritual being with a body of human flesh. This is the best possible news to think about at the beginning of the day, when we look into the mirror and ask yourself- Is that really me? And if you can visualize the truth of our combined physical/spiritual existence, then you are the most blessed of human beings and are ready to take on the world!
ARE WE READY YET?
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