"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-8 (NKJV)
If we know and remember the truth as God has established and laid it out for us in His word, we recognize that the viewpoint of so many regarding the death of our flesh is sadly predictable in contrast. Many are focused on their flesh rather than the God who gave it to them and others still worship that failing flesh and mourn its passing as though the flesh was the life that was once only encased within it. Their grief at the end of flesh is far more traumatic because in their view life ended. The redeemed through Christ know better!
Unlike those who lived in far ancient biblical times and those in the present who refuse it, we have been gracefully blessed to have the word of God to form the foundation of our understanding about this life and the life after more completely. So we have the truth of where our focus should be and the unchanging truth itself within our reach. But instead of focusing on living to please the God who created us, the One who will judge at the end of the life of this flesh suit, so many are instead absorbed in the life of their flesh. And so much so that when that flesh comes to its end, as all flesh will, the "loss" that other remaining flesh believes that they witness, reminds of its own fate to come and the finality of this "one life to live" as they view it. If only seen through the eyes of our flesh, it's seen as the end of our existence, as if there were no eternal life to live, or another death to be feared after flesh passes and judgment comes. Oh, but there is and that life is far more exquisite than this one and that death far more grave and terrifying than that of the flesh. So our awareness of them both and our inclusion of them in our daily perspective are important to keep. For those who walk this walk with God believing that Jesus is Lord and savior, real life- much more real than the life of the flesh, awaits.
"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 guarantee. 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." 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (NKJV)
While most flesh lives, its tendency is toward its own comfort and pleasure and the spirit temporarily residing within that flesh is continually tempted and harassed by it in its selfish quest for more and more temporary satisfaction. The struggle that ensues can have the potential to draw focus away from God and the actual truth unless the living spirit within is made and kept healthy against the unhealthy temptations of its failing flesh. The truth of and about God is so important to keep in focus though! Scripture reveals the truth as God has established it, including the truth about Christ, who is the foundation of our hope for the future - the future beyond the torment and corruption of this flesh. It's the future that God intended for all of us from the beginning, but it's also one that by our choice we could ignore, or choose against, favoring our temporary flesh instead and that would be the ultimate tragedy..
As followers of Christ though, our choice and our perspective are clear. The death of our flesh, when Christ determines our days here are done, will be the birth of our eternal life free of the further encumbrance of flesh and the beginning of our forever in the reward of His presence. Our hope will not fade, diminish, or ever leave us, but will live eternally with us because Christ, "through whom all things were and are created", is our hope.
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)
Amen to that.
In Scripture...
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJV)
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