Slideshow image
Scripture for the day: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guaranty. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Thought for the day: If I were a used car they wouldn’t take me as a trade-in, not even for another used car. I have lumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull - but that's not the worst of it.
My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish. They were once as sleek as a little MG - now they look more like my mom's old Buick. My seat cushions have split open at the seams. My seats are sagging. Seat belts? I gave up all belts when they opened an ice cream shop within easy driving distance of my neighborhood.
Air bags? Forget it. The only bags I have these days are under my eyes. Not counting the saddlebags, of course. I have soooooo many miles on my odometer. Sure, I've been many places and seen many things, but when is the last time an appraiser factored life experiences against depreciation?
My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close or far away.
My reaction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.
My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. Getting the old motor running takes a bit longer in the morning and I don’t seem to get nearly the mileage I used to. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed and by the time I do, I’m out of gas.
Let’s face it; if I were an automobile I’d be looking forward to the junkyard, not the “preowned vehicle” lot.
But we’re not automobiles and praise the Lord, there is coming a day when all things truly will become new! And that includes this old body of mine. The Bible says we will be like him for we will see him as he is, in his glorified body. We’re going to be raised from the dead or raised from the earth to be with the Savior and all those parts that creak and moan and groan and fail us today are going to work like they did when we were in our prime.
There is coming a day when I’m going to stroll into the city of God where they need no sun for the Lamb is the light. I’m going to walk from street to street greeting those I’ve known who have gone on before, enjoying that great reunion day. Then I’m going to fall at the feet of my Jesus as he says to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into my rest.” And I’m sure I’ll suddenly realize the gnawing hunger in my soul has been forever filled with the Bread of Life and the great thirsting of my spirit has been satisfied with the water that flows from the throne of God. All tears will be gone; all cares will be over and there shall be no more curse of sin, no more sorrow, no pain. Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus!
You may have more miles on your odometer than I have on mine. You may have been in more wrecks along your journey. You may feel like a used Yugo, but in God’s eyes you’re a brand new Rolls.
Now go take on your world. - Bill