By this time of my life I should be
comfortable in my own skin. I should accept myself “as is” and be
thankful for the serviceable “earth suit” the Lord provided with
the DNA He chose for me. My skin is not the smooth and supple skin I
had in my youth, of course, but it serves to cover up my bones and muscles and keep my inner workings out of sight.
When I look at my arms and face and other
parts of my anatomy, I wonder what happened and when it happened.
Human skin does become drier with aging because fatty cells decrease
and lose some of their effectiveness. Wrinkles develop and we look
withered. The media tempts us with moisture creams and lanolin and
oil products.
Drying is not such a negative in the
natural world. A dried grape becomes a more expensive raisin. A plum
should be happy to turn into a sweet prune. The nutritional value of
dried foods is not only retained but sometimes increased.
Jesus talked about dried up
Christians, but He wasn't singling out older people. He was
illustrating the close, vital relationship that we must maintain with
Him or else it is impossible to serve and please Him. If we don't
abide, He said we “dry up.” Jesus declared that there was no way
to bear spiritual fruit apart from Him.
The oil of the Holy Spirit keeps us
from drying up. He is our Refresher to keep us spiritually young and
vital no matter how many scores of years we have lived. The Psalmist
declared, “Bless the Lord, O my soul...who satisfies your years
with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle”
(103:5). No cream or oil product on the market can match such a
rejuvenation guarantee!
What I look like as a seasoned
Christian on the outside isn't eternally important. Dryness and
wrinkles are expected as part of my temporary, mortal body which will
be totally renewed someday in the resurrection. What I should guard
against is spiritual dryness that takes place if I don't abide in
Christ and let Him abide in me.
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