An elderly couple met their demise in an auto accident and were transported to Heaven. The faithful couple were recognized by St. Peter and escorted into the welcome center, where they began to take in all the wonder and amazement of the place.
St. Peter pointed out the food court and told them that they could of course eat anything and not worry about their health. The husband especially began partaking of the pastries and deserts. The wife was amazed at the beauty, the peace and the joy she felt and commented over and over about what a nice place Heaven was and how happy she felt to be there.
However, the husband began looking quite grim. His wife inquired what the problem was. The husband sneered, “If it weren’t for you and your oat bran muffins & healthy food, we’d probably have been here 15 years ago!”
Let’s put all jokes aside. Are you waiting for heaven to experience the joy of living? Are you always looking to the future for that “someday” even if it means in the afterlife? Was Jesus really serious when he said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (John 10:10)? The kingdom of God is a gospel of health, joy and peace NOW—not later. Our salvation allows us to have the liberty to experience joy and love from within, which are not dependent on external factors.
However, for many, the hope is ONLY in the future. But the present also contains this promise of joy and peace if God is within us.
Living Temples
These living temples carry God within them. We manifest evidence of His spirit, such as love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our health and well-being are dependent on living a balanced and a harmonious life. Any imbalance within the system creates a dis-ease state in the body. Think about the havoc stress can create in our bodies. Stress can bring about or awaken any disease.” Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes”, says a member of the Mayo staff clinic, a medical practice and research medical group.
Our spiritual life must, therefore, extend to all aspect of our lives. And we must integrate all aspect of our lives with our relationship with Christ.
Being stuck in the past or future can put unnecessary stress on our bodies, draining us of focus, vitality and energy.
Being stuck in the past is like a scratched 45 D record. (Boy, do I remember when that needle got stuck!)
Waiting for the the perfect time in the future or fearful that the worse is going to happen in the future, can also limit us from experiencing life fully.
We are embodied spiritual beings. We do not just have bodies; we are bodies. Our bodies allow us to experience, to be aware of the omnipresence of God—the great I AM. He is present; He is all around us; He is in everything.
While we have the strength–the energy, let’s glorify God in everything we do and say. He has gifted us with bodies, so that we can live with the awareness of his presence and goodness all around us.
