11/24/2021
It is tempting to think that we can find life, and not only the bare necessities of life like the rise and fall of our breasts, but the rich fullness of life, in the things we are able to physically do each day. In fact our happiness, joy, and the provision of everything that sustains us is spiritual in origin. Through the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the understanding given us by the Holy Spirit, we begin to realize that without the spirit nature of who we are, we are destined to be crushed by life, and doomed to a miserable death… not of the body, but something much deeper… our souls. Jesus hung on the cross with His body dying, but His Spirit remained alive in hope, and faith. His body was suffering even as His Spirit sustained life in Him… until He committed it to God.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
John 6:63 ESV
We have each experienced times in our lives when we found ourselves distraught, and trapped in worldly sadness. We have been on a precipice from which our sad life seemed to be unable to extract itself. We might have tried to help ourselves with things such as alcohol, drugs, sex, or doing anything that might bring us joy again, but which, at their best, only brought temporary relief… hollow pleasure. We read about our physical morbidity, and desperation in the words of Ecclesiastes…
“All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 ESV
But in God, and Jesus Christ, we have been given hope. God has given us a spirit, and sustains it in us so that our life will be full, and Jesus has redeemed us from a sinful existence; restoring our hope. Though the earth moves around the sun day after day, and physical life comes and goes, we are each provided with a spirit, a soul, that gives us meaning, and by our faith… we come back from the precipice of hopelessness to a joyous life destined for eternity.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13 ESV
Hope, joy, peace, fullness of life, It all begins with love. Not the hollow love that the world speaks of, but the love of God that is deeper than man’s understanding, and true for all eternity. This love brings life with it… not another physical life that two bodies can produce, but a spiritual life which is the treasure we all search for.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
So there is no hope for us in the things we can do for ourselves bodily; these are only empty physical attempts to provide for ourselves what our spirit was meant to receive from God. By realizing this the Christian believer receives spiritual nourishment and life through Christ. God’s Word, and the gospel of Jesus speak to s, and we are talked ack from the edge of hopelessness where we stood in despair, and we are given a renewed life.
“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
Romans 8:10-11 ESV
So, for those who are still trying to bring hope and a sense of life to themselves, we invite you to give up your empty quest for personal fulfillment, and join with us, the children of God, who have found true life in the spirit. Join us in Jesus, and step back from sadness, depression, failure, and hopelessness… back from the edge of death.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for creating us as not only physical beings, but spiritual beings as well. Thank you for our bodies which are meant to walk the earth, and our spirit into which you pour your love, grace, and in which you find your temple, and our bridge to your heavenly kingdom. In us you have provided the fountain of hope, love, true life, and everlasting joy. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sustains us body, and soul. Praised be your name for every morsel of Christ that we consume, and through whom you bring life to us, and provide a righteous, and healthy, home for yourself. Merciful are you Father for sending your Son to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected so that we would be made new, free is sin, and able to receive the fullness of life eternally. Wash us in His blood, feed us His body, give us His blood to drink, and find us worthy in him… ready to sit at your table forevermore.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
Rich Forbes