“If a man dies will he live again?” (Job 14:14)

One characteristic common to all living things is that they eventually die.  People, animals, birds, microbes, plants, all die at some point.  The cycle of birth, life and death may vary, but the sequence remains the same for all. The Psalmist says, “You have made my days a mere handbreadth.” (Psalm 39:5)  

But then Jesus says, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25, 26)  This, of course, runs counter to what we experience in being born into this physical world, living the life we see, hear and touch. 

Many years ago a secretary with whom I worked was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer.  Her name was Rita.  She went through multiple surgeries and treatments.  I watched her as she went from this vibrant woman in her prime, full of life, grace and happiness, literally shrink physically before my eyes as the cancer and treatments sapped the life from her.  In visiting her a few days before she died, I was shocked at her physically deteriorated state. 

That evening, while reflecting on her condition, the thought came to me that while the cancer was destroying her physical body, it could not destroy her because who she was included so much more than her physical body.  Yes, her physical nature had a part in defining who she was, but the most important part of her was her personality, her gracious and loving manner, her kindness, her willingness to listen to a co-worker with a problem, her diligence in her work, her quiet peace and joy when our office was experiencing a chaotic moment, her inclination to love no matter who was standing in front of her.

These non-physical characteristics of Rita were what really made her who she was.  They would not die with her body.  They would live on.  As physical beings we struggle with defining the non-physical.  We use words like soul and spirit that have the potential to transcend the physical realm. The writer of Ecclesiastes observes, “He has set eternity into the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Eccl. 3:11)

Jesus answers Job’s question.  We die to this physical world in the current age, but if we believe in him, the best part of us lives on — soul and spirit. Just as God raised Jesus to new life with a different kind of body, he promises to do the same for those who believe. 

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’” (1 Cor. 15:53-55)

Will you live forever?

“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”  (Genesis 3:21)

After God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it, he instructed him, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 3:16-17) 

We all know the story — the serpent enticed Eve to take fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil who gave some to Adam and they both ate of it.  As a result of their disobedience, they were removed from the Garden of Eden.  But as the above verse mentions, even in their disobedience God in his mercy and love provided clothing for them.   

Our God is a merciful God, and Jesus brought mercy to all whom he encountered.  Jesus tells us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Matthew 6:36) Because of his great love and mercy Jesus healed the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, raised Jarius’ daughter to life, healed the cripple lowered through the roof by his friends, opened the ears of a deaf mute, made a leper clean, and demonstrated his love to countless others.

My family and I have experienced God’s mercy in many ways over the years.  To mention just one example.  Two years ago, I experienced a recurrence of my prostate cancer after 15 years from the initial surgery and treatment.  The radiation oncologist recommended 38 sessions of proton radiation, five days a week over the course of seven and a half weeks.  Through God’s mercy I experienced absolutely no side effects during the entire period or thereafter. 

I praise God for his love and mercy to me and my family.  He is forever faithful. 

How have you experienced God’s love and mercy?            

“’No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” (1 Co. 2:9-10 NIV)

St. Paul says that no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God, but with the Holy Spirit we may come to understand what God has freely given us – words taught not by human wisdom, but by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths.  In contrast, St. Paul says that theperson without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them, and they cannot understand them because they must be spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2: 14)

The Holy Spirit gives me a sense of belonging to God – a feeling of security, knowing that the God of all creation is my Father. He is not distant and out of reach.  He has made himself available to me by becoming one of us through his son, Jesus, the Messiah.  I can see how much he loves me by how he sacrificed his life for me through the tortuous death of Roman crucifixion.  His Spirit gives me the desire to overcome my selfish nature, and love and serve my wife, family and others as much as I am inclined serve myself. 

The Holy Spirit helps me to understand that I am to be a good steward of the responsibilities and circumstances in my life, including family, work, and relationships with others.  He has taught me to have courage and trust in God when faced with the life threatening illness of cancer, the family challenge of a child with an intellectual disability, and circumstances that threaten a presumed career path.

The Spirit gives us knowledge and understanding in our perspectives, conduct, and relationships.  He enables us to see the natural order of God’s creation.  Some people see conflict between science and faith, but the Spirit shows us that science is simply the discovery of the mysteries of God’s creation.

How remarkable!  Who can equal God’s love for us and the gift of the Holy Spirit which is our enabler in love, wisdom, and truth?  I once read that the contrast between living life in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and not doing so is like the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost this week, are you experiencing the personal presence of the Father and the Son as enabled by the Holy Spirit?  If not, ask God to release the power of the Holy Spirit you received in your baptism.  It will change your life. 

“I will drive them out little by little before you, until you have grown numerous enough to take possession of the land.” (Exodus 23:30)

We live in a fast-food, express lane world.  We have instant cash machines, drive-through banking, one- hour cleaning, jiffy lubrication for our cars, and overnight delivery of mail.  We seem to be in a constant rush. The virtue of patience and waiting holds little value, considered more a distraction than an attribute.  

In Exodus 23, God is giving instructions to the Israelites about how he is going to help them overcome the people who occupy the land he has prepared for them. He says he is not going to drive out the occupiers in a single year.  Instead, he will drive them out little by little until the Israelites become numerous enough to take possession of the land.  

God designed us to grow little by little from infancy to childhood, from childhood to puberty, from puberty to adulthood, from early adulthood to maturity.  Shortening the process will not lead to the desired outcome of maturity and wisdom.  How often have we seen the fame accompanying a child actress or the instant wealth accruing to a gifted collegiate athlete gone professional lead to a disastrous result?

Our daughter Emily was born with Down syndrome.  One of the characteristics of children with Down syndrome is that they experience delays in their development.  That first step takes a little longer.  First words come a little slower and physical coordination can take time, but each milestone is accompanied with much rejoicing and a sure sense of achievement. 

Ironically, the Lord calls each of us to seek him eagerly, but often has us wait to see the fruit.  St. Paul acknowledges that even “creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed…in hope that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19, 21)

While we may be looking for instant success, it is a long-term process — the benefits lasting an eternity for us, our families, and the world around us. It is noteworthy that of the fifteen characteristics St. Paul uses to define love in 1 Corinthians 13, the first is patience.  He says, “Love is patient, love is kind…” 

Can we abide by God’s timing of what he wants to accomplish through us?