“Wrinkles are a way of preparing us for heaven.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 2, 2022
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:2-4
Just about every day, I chat with one of my best girl buds over Marco Polo, an app that allows you to converse with others real-time via video chat. My friend lives in Arkansas, and I live in Colorado, so we naturally love this more personal way of staying in touch. We’ve known one other a long time (over 30 years to be exact), so we’ve watched each other experience multiple life changes: marriage, job changes, babies, grandkids, and parents passing away—and now we’re both watching each other go through mid-life.
When you use Marco Polo, you can see yourself in the screen and the other person you are conversing with as well. So, every now and then, one of us inevitably comments on our gray hair, our menopausal weight gain—and this week I joked about my new turkey neck.
I must be honest . . . and I know it sounds vain, but I don’t like seeing my skin sag and I’m not a big fan of wrinkles. I’m noticing the beginning of jowls and I found another grey eyebrow hair last week.
Sometimes I’ll say to my husband, “I miss my old body.” Then he’ll tease, “What do you mean? You have an old body.”
I miss when my face and my physique used to wake up at the same time. Now, it takes my face an hour to wake up after I get out of bed. Age is starting to show . . .and oh! How time has flown!
So, what’s the upside of aging? There’s a huge upside!
The world consistently tells us there is something wrong with wrinkles. We must hide them, Botox them, and be ashamed of them. But they are a normal part of aging and passing through our time on planet earth. They are a normal part of preparing us for leaving and going to our real Home.
“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
With my eyes fixed on Jesus and the promise of everlasting life (and a new neck) that awaits, I no longer need to feel that younger people are doing better and that my time has passed. Instead, I can see that my time has not passed; my time is coming! I’m closer to the goal. Closer to trials ending, closer to the joy of heaven, and closer to experiencing the fullness of love, life, and perfection in his presence!
Bring on the turkey neck! I’m getting closer to my true Home! That’s something to be grateful for!
“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:53-55).
Prayer
Lord, please help me to focus on what really matters. It’s not my outward appearance. It’s living a life that is pleasing to you and brings you glory every day until I go Home. Thank you for the promise of eternal life where all will be made new, and the corruptible will put on the incorruptible. Amen.
Application
Do you need to make a shift and choose not to be concerned about the passing of youth?
Related Reading
1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 3:4
Worship Resource
Chris Tomlin: Home
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