The Devotional

Papa “J” says

In Europe and the Mideast it is not odd to see men walking together with one arm over the shoulder of the other or holding hands. This would be a visible expression of biblical love. (Agape) John 13:23

When I was working for the elderly I would watch as they advanced in age. I remember one such couple; we'll call them Marty and Martha. Nice people, Marty liked doing odd jobs, so I would give him little things to do, it kept him busy. His wife Martha liked bake very nice pastry. She had worked in a bakery most of her life knew how to expand one's waistline. As time past, Marty became sick and passed away. As Martha mourned, her baking faltered. Her passion for things in general took a nose dive and she became very bitter. Many of us worked to encourage her to start baking again. We sought to help her regain some of the will to live that vanished when Marty vanished. Martha did come around and soon she was baking again, but her bitterness did not leave her and in a few short years she began to isolated herself from friends. Then, it became impossible for her to maintain her independence. So, within ten years of Marty's death, Martha developed dementia. For many elderly, the process of dementia begins when the normal ways of life are disrupted by domestic trauma, coupled by loss of their spouse (Martha had many domestic problems). If these people are unsaved, this is a very lonely road to travel even though friends and relatives are nearby, Martha was a very lonely person!

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 I am so glad, knowing that the flesh and blood of my physical existence will not inherit the kingdom of God. Any weight of sin large or small is sufficient to keep our bodies from entering heaven. Romans 3:23 Corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Well, what does this mean? As humans we are always looking to inherit aunt Susie's sowing box, or uncle Raymond's old car, so why should we not be looking to inherit heaven in much the same way?

All of the things of this world are corrupted; rust, mildew, poison, the dead or the dying is all the evidence we need to show that we are living in a temporal condition of decay, there is no decay in heaven. But there is a wonderful truth about God, who will change our temporal and sinful body into one that is like that of His Son. The LORD Jesus Christ. The death pangs of the physical world in which we live and have our being will lose it's victory, or sting. This happens first when we meet with Jesus and become saved. John 3:10-21.

Then when this mortal body dies it will put on immortality and pass from death to life. This will be done in the twinkling of an eye. So fast that one will not have time to think about it. For the saved our lives are hid in Christ. Colossians 3:1-4. This is not a cure all drug, or one that has side effects, complications or contra-indicators. This is the gospel of God to the who-so-ever will! John 3:16. Be saved! Be saved and the truth will set you free! John 17:17.