Everything rots. I was rudely reminded of that when my daughter called last night to let me know that our refrigerator had shut off and our house has a new un-fresh scent. Life is uncertain. My plan was to drive back to our Florida home five days ago, but my wife became ill and could not travel. I am writing this on Good Friday. That’s the historic day on which every hope and every good plan in the world took a nosedive. I imagine that Jesus’ disciples were about as excited to return to their lives at home as I am to return to mine. What was waiting for them? Rot, ruined plans, nothing to give comfort, no reassurance, nothing.
I’m pretty sure I know what is going to happen to me this coming week. I’ll drive home, put on a face mask, clean out the refrigerator, and either experience a resurrection of Old LG, or buy a new one. But either way, I have lost faith in Old LG. This is the second time he’s done this, and after the first death, he has never smelled quite right. My wife is voting for his burial.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if I returned home to find Old LG humming, and all of his contents to be returned to full freshness!? That would be terrific, but about as likely as Jesus’ tomb becoming the womb for New Life. Hey! That did happen!
Because of Easter, my house may stink, but my life does not. Because of Easter, I don’t dread going home. All material things will die and rot. Spiritual things will live forever. I am spiritual. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, Paul gives us some good news:
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 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 15:50-55 NIV
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
Sorry about your refrigerator! Maybe bleach will get that out.