Outward
Sweet William
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
…2 Corinthians 4:16-17
One day Bill and I decided to plant a flower garden using railroad ties to frame it. This “small” flower-bed ended up being sixteen feet by four feet, and required a ton of dirt to fill. While working around it one day, Bill and I joked that there was enough dirt to bury us both, and we already have the flowers. Our own decorated plots! We even goofed around, arguing who would sleep on which side of the flower garden.
“We’ll sleep like we sleep in our bed. You know how I like to hang my left arm over the side of the bed.” Bill exclaimed.
I thought this is getting too strange now!
The day caught up with us as we sat on the edge of the masterpiece, just having planted a few more Sweet Williams.
I sighed, “I’m tired!”
Bill pipes up, “Come on, we just have a few more flowers to plant!”
With glaring eyes I replied, “I am not planting Sweet Williams anymore today, unless it’s the six-foot one, with glasses!” We did finish it and even admired our accomplishment.
The flower bed was beautiful from the highway, and the outward appearance added to the front of the house. No one would ever know the struggle of finishing this project. We sure were weary by the end of the day, sort of like Paul referred to in the written Word. He is physically weary as age seems to be the big factor, plus his ministry wasn’t an easy ministry with beatings, imprisonment, travels, etc.
Paul is comforted by the thought that spiritually he is being renewed daily; a refreshing thought to me. Spiritually he is in great shape, led and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. He exercises his faith, and understood when his physical body wore out he was prepared to meet the Lord. Outwardly Christian, old age will come to most of us unless the Lord comes, but like Paul our hope or trust in Christ, sustains us for all eternity; it won’t fail us like our physical body most certainly will.
Take your eyes off the physical and place them on the eternal. Yes, even me and my “Sweet William” will go back to dust. We might be buried together here, but we will walk together there.
Father,
We praise you God Almighty and thank you for your promises to each of us as believers. Remind us we are fragile and we are dust and that no plans made on this earth, are permanent, written in stone, except the guarantee that each of us will meet our Maker. May my tombstone say the world, “Carol is forgiven! She believed in Jesus.”
