From Death to Life

For to set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 (ESV)

It is not difficult to find death in our world.  Turn on the television and witness wars or crimes as they happen.  Drive down the road and see the carcass of an animal broken and torn to pieces.  And every day we look into the mirror we witness the affects of death.  Our skin begins to sag a bit more and wrinkles become more prominent.  Every year we realize that we cannot physically do what a year earlier was easy.  Death is creeping on our doorstep.

But death has a culprit.  Our bodies are dying because of sin.  (Thank you Adam and Eve.)  And there is nothing we can do about it.

This week we had family in town and the conversation somehow drifted to old age and growing older.  A comment was made about Suzanne Summers, the actress who played on the 80's sitcom Three's Company.  (Man, I hated that theme song.)  She is in her sixties and violently trying to put off death.  She takes over ninety (90!) pills a day to supplement her body with the vitamins, minerals, and other things that the body begins to produce less of as we get older.  Her desire is to live forever and will take any risk to prevent her death from coming.  But what she doesn't want to face is that she is going to die.  She cannot avoid it.  And though she is afraid to she will face that death.

Unlike Suzanne Summers, those who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can live life with confidence.  That though their bodies are dying they will have physical life again at the final resurrection.  Those who know the Spirit have no reason to fear physical death because it is temporary.

"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)

Praise be to God for his grace and mercy.  Praise be to the indwelling Spirit for the life he gives because of Christ's righteousness.  Now live the life we have been given with confidence.  Live for Him.