LIFE

Life – It’s an interesting thing really.  We had no say on if we wanted in.  Just one day in our very early years we became aware of our existence.  We became conscious we have life.  

And then we get old enough to start asking inquisitive questions like, “Where did I come from”, a question that flows from the lips of every child at some point.  Later we become aware of life spans, that people live and die.  But when you’re young death isn’t even on the radar.  Everything is full speed ahead.  The years begin to mount up and you realize how much of life has been focused on “getting there”.  Vacations to Florida.  If you drive, it’s 18 hours.  “Let’s drive through the night.”  “Let’s get there.”

In 1965 my buddy Jerry and I decided to take a trip out west from Minnesota.  Destination - California.  But we were smart enough to realize that the route to CA offered a ton of experiences and enjoyments along the way, Wall Drug, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Great Salt Lake, Yosemite, the giant redwoods, and events along the way that were just special unplanned serendipities (a blow out in the middle of nowhere with no spare.  Still one of the memories we talk most about).

I know heaven is a great destination, but let’s enjoy the journey of life regardless of the path it takes.  There may be some unexpected and undesired detours or occurrences, but life is rich in experiences, and produces a kaleidoscope of amazing emotions.  Sometimes the journey goes through dark and creepy woods, other times down sunlit ocean beaches, sometimes to mountain top vistas, other times through deep ravines and canyons.  But all are good as the master painter of our lives covers the canvas with a colorful, artful masterpiece.  

He wants us to enjoy the journey.  It’s an amazing trip.

TOUGH CURES

My sister Nancy just finished a year of treatments for Hepatitis C which she acquired some 40 years ago through a blood transfusion.  It reached a level in late 2011 where it had to be treated.  The treatment was nasty.  Month after month the drugs produced side effects that would cause the strongest of us to cry “uncle”.  Nausea was accompanied with flu like systems, body ache and fatigue, mouth sores that screamed every time something was eaten.  Even what was gingerly mouthed tasted metallic and bad.  My sister has lived in the “no fun” zone for a year now, but on Jan 20^th she took her last pill.  The dirty work has been done.  Now comes the recovery time and the longed for return to a healthy life.  

Our earthly maladies require that we are the ones that have to take the cure.  But for the one malady that is most deadly, God took the cure for us.  

We had the sin disease.  Sin is a severe malady, destroying our lives, eating up our future.  Yet God in His mercy doesn’t make us go through the treatment program.  He went through it for us.  He designed the cure.  He took our sins upon Himself, and endured the cure on the cross for us.  The side effects were deadly.  It cost Him His life.  But the treatment was so effective God raised Him from the dead so we could have a whole new healthy and eternal life.

Our sin is taken care of, a malady of consequence far more deadly than Hepatitis C.  I can only thank and praise God for His mercy and grace.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  It is not of yourself.  It is the gift of God.”  Eph 2:8

What a great cure.