The Mortality of My Flesh

My first really serious encounter with my mortality came in the summer of 1980 when, biting into a delicious deli-sandwich at a conference in NJ I suddenly found myself chewing in something too hard to swallow and digest. Upon expelling and examining the object I discovered it was a part of one of my teeth, which was replace a few days later by my first crown (Yes, I have have a couple more over the last 30 years.).

Well, it was at that moment, staring at the little broken piece of enamel in my hand, that I realized that this body of mine wasn't going to last forever. Kind of sobering. All of 27 and I had lost a piece of my original equipment and had a replacement part installed. As I said, I've had a couple of other parts replaced, as in the other crowns in my mouth. I have also had failing parts propped up by pills, eyeglasses (Progressing from single lens, to bifocal, to tri-focal, to progressive), and various wraps and supports for joints. Three years ago I even gave away one of my more important parts, gladly surrendering one of my kidneys for our son Dan to use (I would encourage any of you to do the same, should the opportunity offer. I can't say that I miss the kidney, and hey, removing major organs is an easy way to lose a little weight.).

Back to the summer of 1980. Confronted with the irrefutable evidence of my mortality, I was a bit shaken. You see, I was still several years from embracing Him who died to guarantee me, not just immortality, for God has created us all immortal, but an unimaginably joyful, peaceful, and sweet eternity in His Father's house. Though I can hardly imagine what our spiritual bodies will be like, I know that none of their parts will ever break or wear out. That's good new for those who will be spending eternity with the Father and the Son; it's not so good news for those who will suffer forever in their spiritual bodies, cut off from Father and Son, and subjected to unspeakable torments.

I guess the point of this reflecting, and I am not sure what put it in mind today, is that sooner or later all of us come to the realization that, even if we don't lose a tooth, or have a part removed or replace, the days of our flesh in this beautiful world are numbered. What matters at that point is that we don't shrug our shoulders as if the end of our flesh means the end of us, and that we understand that one of two distinct eternities awaits us. Jesus has given us the way (As in, He is THE Way) to be 100% assured of a glorious eternity, and the sooner we have that assurance, the more we can both enjoy and make the most of the remaining days of our mortal flesh.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4