Never Give Up

Guys,

Here's a super verse with some interesting, bittersweet encouragement for us...

We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.… For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 NLT

It's worth reading again ...

We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.… For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 NLT

I received a reasonably good report on my uncle Jim the other night, at age 81, the doctors said the spots of cancer in his bones and on his lungs are of a slow growing type. So they said they could treat them for pain, and give him years of life yet. When you talk about the "big C," and you are 81, years instead of months is a good report.

But as the scripture above says, our bodies, sin cursed, are slowly or quickly dying. But the real us, our soul, and our God given spirit is being sanctified and being renewed every day.

John MacArthur, and the Bible say that at a believer's physical death, we are immediately in the presence of God, with a perfected soul, the real us is no longer sin cursed and we are the best we'll ever be and in perfect joy and fellowship with our God forever. Then, when the Lord returns, our bodies will be resurrected, perfect, imperishable, fit for heaven, so "the joys to come will last!"

Have you got troubles? God's plan is working out. His grace is bringing more and more people to Christ.

So as Winston Churchill said, "Never Give Up!"