New Body

Little Dancer

Lying on my bed, still and alone, I stare at my ceiling and listen.  I hear trucks passing on the highway, tires hitting ruts in the overused pavement.  Horns honking as pedestrians and drivers battle for right away.  Dogs bark, asserting their authority over their domain.  Voices yell, as domestic disputes spill outside the door of frayed homes.  My own house creaks and sighs as wind and weather rattle against its walls.  Cats cry and scurry within my rooms, affirming supremacy over one another.  My own heart beats and races, never stopping or resting.  Blood cells pump through my veins in the ever constant attempt to appease the demanding cells they serve.  My lungs pull in air, seeking the precious unseen oxygen, never reaching satisfaction.  Thoughts race on tracks through my mind, in a race that has no beginning or end.  Even in the stillness, nothing is still. 

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  Romans 8:22-23

In a world ever seeking for peace and “tranquility”, nothing is at peace, nothing is ever still.  Every body, every mind, every cell is battling for its space, its time.  The body lusting for pleasures and fulfillment.  The mind seeks answers and affirmation.  The constant rustle of disquiet ever lingers.  Even though my eyes cannot see and my ears cannot hear, my mind knows that the groaning and pains do not just rest at the limit of my senses.  Babies cry in hunger, children weak with thirst, men no place to lie down, woman no clothes to wear.  Forests are torn down, rocks are dug up, oceans become stale with death and air polluted with muck. 

Then to Adam He said,… “cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.  Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herbs of the field.” Genesis 3:17-18 

Laying here on my bed, every second I age, every second a part of me dies.  When Lord?  When will it all end?  Lord when will the battle, the destruction take it final plunge?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

In a realm between sleep and awake, in a place the mind and imagination surge together, I see.  I see the Lord’s hand stretched out to this restless dying vessel that contains me.  With the touch of His hand, the decaying flesh of this life is stripped away.  It falls to the dust like a withered husk.  In its place I stand, a new me. I body no longer hungry or thirsty, no longer tired or weak.  Skin bright and glowing.  Flesh warm and light.  The air around me wraps me in its warm embrace like a wool blanket.  The earth beneath my feet, soft and smooth, secures and protects my steps.  The Lord holds my hand and in the cool comfort of the trees we walk.  Water flows from the ground beautiful and clear.  Birds sing in the air and deer graze in the fields.  I look around and see so many others, some I should know, some I do not but we are new, new bodies, new flesh.  Together we walk, never tiring, never thirsting.   We just enjoy the pleasure of His company.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  Philippians 3:20-21

I wake and find myself still on my bed, still in my room, still in my decaying flesh.  The moment has not come. My body is still dying.  The world is still waiting, still paining for His return.  But a voice in the stillness speaks to me, reminds me that I am not alone.  Though my body is dying and weak, His Spirit is strong. 

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

So here I am still, in His hands I wait and I LIVE. 

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21   

Prosperity vs. Promise

Still Standing

I just read Psalm 73 and for some reason the intensity of it is overwhelming to me.  The wicked and sinful of the world grow in prosperity while those called to Christ struggle to make ends meet.  The sinful become more boastful and arrogant in each passing day, while Christ own are chastised and punished for calling upon His name.  I can’t help but question why is the sin of the world allowed to run so rampantly and become so acceptable.  . 

                “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:3

Just watch the evening news for fifteen minutes and the acts of man make you just want to break down in tears.  Men tear each other down to rubble and self indulgence is considered the acceptable choice.  Christ word is thrown to the fire as men turn to sin as their given right.

“They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily.  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.”  Psalm 73:8-9

I look at my life and know I am guilty of questioning the why’s in the world.  It’s a matter of vision that I know I have questioned more than once without completely comprehending my own thoughts.  The Psalmist struggled and questioned these things just as I have and wanted to look as his own acts of obedience as vanity.  Why should we obey?  Why walk in righteousness when sin brings visible prosperity. 

                “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.” Psalms 17:13

Even people who claim the word of God as their calling to action forget the truth of who Christ really is.  They take up violence as their calling, using God as their reason for shedding blood instead of speaking Christ’s Love.  “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)  War, hatred, false submission and acceptance seem to be the winning parties in these last days. 

“When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me – Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.” Psalm 73:16-17

From my small place in this picture, the portrait as a whole seems hopeless and futile.  But then I see God’s heart, Christ’s words and the promises that He gave.  Then I see that the WAR HAS BEEN WON, the victory has been given!  The actions of the wicked are temporary but the promises of God are everlasting.

“As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord when you awake, You shall despise their image.” Psalm 73:20

I know to whom I belong and to what purpose my life will serve.  Though the world does not know Him, He is still present and he has already won the war.  The world will continue to rebel against Him but He will continue to be present.  He will not leave or forsake those who call upon His name.  He will fulfill His promise of Love to those who call upon Him.  Our prosperity does not look like that of the world.  Our treasure does not rust or crumble.  Our reward cannot be stolen or destroyed. 

“Who have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

Though the skies seem dark and the storms churn on a violent offensive, I know to whom I belong and why I have continued to live the life of obedience.   To Jesus I belong and to Him I obey.  “God is love” and to Him I surely belong.