The Fountain of Youth - Discovered

"For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies." 2 Corinthians 5:1-3

I'm getting old.

I hate to break it to you, but you are, too.

While walking through the mall recently, I was struck by the lengths advertisers go to in an effort to make us look and feel young and beautiful.  Nevermind the three plastic surgery centers I passed on the way there.  In today's global culture, youth is golden, and we spend so much money in an attempt to stay that way.  As I thought about myself, I realized how much I was caught up in the trap, too.  New clothes, makeup, hair color, nail color, and the list goes on.

While, Revlon and Juan Ponce de Leon may not have discovered the Fountain of Youth, I believe I have.  It's in the springs of living water.  It's in the Water of Life, Himself.  One day, when we leave this life, our Father in Heaven will give us a new body.  It's a body that won't ever wear out or grow old.  It is an eternal body made for us by God.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't try to look our best, but we shouldn't become obsessed with our outward appearance.  1 Peter 3:3-4 reminds us of this when it says, "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

Does that mean I won't notice changes in my body, or that the dress hangs a bit differently on my body now that I'm past my twenties?  No, it doesn't.

But, now when I see a new wrinkle or experience pain in a new body part, my heart just smiles because I know that one day I won't care about those things anymore, I won't even experience them.  I will be with Jesus, stylin' in my brand new heavenly body, better than any advertiser or any plastic surgeon could ever create.

Goodnight, Runners.