I’m not that
old, and yet I read the beginning of chapter 5 and I can echo a big
understanding “Yes, I know what you mean!” As life goes on, no-one
on earth is exempt from the feelings described here. This
life is full of struggles, sadness and pain, and the older we get, the more our
earthly decaying bodies seem to groan. We can’t seem to stop the aging
process, and we can’t seem to stop death. And if we just left these
thoughts and feelings here, it would be a very miserable passage. And yet
weaved into this first section of chapter 5 – there is HOPE! Incredible
hope that this is not what God has intended for eternity. What God has
planned for those who follow him, is LIFE! This passage should excite us
about what is to come! We have a certain hope that he has given us
eternal life, and that one day when God fully brings in his Kingdom, we will
have a new heaven and a new earth, and we will have new heavenly bodies.
We will have a life of no pain, no sadness, no aging, no death, full security
and full freedom! I can’t wait! And just in case you’re thinking
“Hmmmmm, is this really going to happen? Can we be sure?” This
passage reminds us that God has given us his Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing
what is to come! His Spirit lives in us, and does the opposite to death,
decay, destruction. His Spirit changes us, makes us new, transforms us,
empowers us, strengthens us, envisions us, and makes us more and more like
Jesus! Jesus also taught us to pray “your kingdom come” NOW, so we
can pray that life’s struggles will end now, and that healings will happen now,
and that heaven will break through on earth NOW! So let us be
people who (verse 7) “Live by faith, not by sight,” and people who speak
with excitement about the eternal hope that we have! Your Kingdom come
Lord.
(lay member of staff)