Mortal

We didn’t have a choice really, it’s the way of things. From the point of conception our lives were wrapped in mortalness. Our bodies were not going to last forever.  Within their very design was a weakness that time and circumstances would eventually exploit. It seems that reminders of this fact are around us at every turn. For me it started early this year with the passing of Jonah Hammet and since then there has been an on going stream of people that have died.  Tommy Redding “my uncle”, Jane Huffines who was found at her home 3 days after she had crossed over, Mrs Thompson who’s first name I never knew but I knew her because of my home church, and Nathan Clark our 13 year old neighbor which was a shocker and I’m not sure when I will be over that one. Then there’s Brandyn Sands’ Father, Josh Hill’s Grandmother, and 3 miscarriages.  All of these were “taken” from a different set of circumstances (some cancer, others old age, etc…), at various stages of their existence (some young, others old and not so old) but all (with the exception of Jonah) happened within the past two weeks…

Within The Past Two weeks…

Such is the nature of Mortalness

We are born, we grow, we live and move in a world that isn’t getting younger but always older. A world that spins toward natural extinction at an alarming rate.  We are mortal and are on the road to perish with each step we take and with each breath we breathe.  No one gets younger, or better.  We all get older and worse.

So, death comes upon us, we see people placed in graves, and we cry because we will miss them all the while being reminded that we are headed toward that same fate. A fate that has power over us, and there is no avoiding it.

But…

There is the possibility of a great exchange.

An exchange made possible through the resurrection of Jesus.  Made simple it is this…  By believing in the name of Jesus, accepting that we are sinners and putting our faith and trust in him as our Savior we immediately “sign up” for His “body exchange program”.  A perk (if you will) for being a follower of Jesus. There is coming a day when we will exchange this Mortal body we were born with for a new and different body.  One that has no imperfections. A body that has no weaknesses that time and circumstances can exploit.  A body we receive after the one we are in has served its purpose.  This great exchange is a surety for Jesus will make it happen and what a glorious promise that is!

“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised…. and we (believers) will be changed. For our perishable body will be exchanged – made into an imperishable one and our mortal body will be exchanged – made into an immortal one.” (My Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 15:52b – 53a)

But until that day occurs, we mourn for those we have lost and remember their mortal lives, knowing that when we cash in our mortality and exchange it for immortality,  we will see them again and converse about the differences between our moral and immortal existence.  In the mean time we should live each moment to its fullest and attack each day with vigor.  Realizing that everyday we live in our mortal flesh is a gift.  A gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted as we head toward the day of our Great Exchange.