I'll give you the answer at the end of this post, and you may be surprised by The Answer.
(originally posted in May 2013)
I'm sitting here Saturday morning in my easy chair, deep in thought, talking to and hearing from the Lord with my Bible opened to Isaiah. Today the earthly body of my Aunt, my Dad's baby sister, his last living relative from his immediate family (parents & siblings), will be laid to rest, while she is now in Heaven in the presence of Jesus. She has reunited with her sister who went before her, her daughter who went before her, her mother and father, as well as many others loved ones who died "in Christ".
Many thoughts are going through my head, pertaining to man (and woman's) endless pursuit to prolong the life in this body, keep it from aging, and try to defeat the natural process that was set in motion from the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they were cast out due to sin, and removed from the presence of the "Tree of Life".
From the ancient writings of Herodotus, to the explorations of Ponce de Leon in the 1500's, to the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie, men (and women) have been looking for the fountain of youth. I can also think of many more movies, literature, etc. that have "immortality" in the flesh as part of it's subject, such as "Tuck Everlasting", "Highlander", "Peter Pan and Neverland", etc., and even "Wolverine". Needless to say, I enjoy these kinds of stories and movies as much as the next person for "entertainment", but also realize the futility of such earthly pursuits.
In the pharmacy where I work I see on a daily basis people trying to defy the aging process. Men getting pills, injections, L'Oreal hair coloring kits, hair implants, all desperately seeking to defy the aging process and return to their youth. Women getting every kind of cosmetic plastic surgery, implants, etc. they can to try to look young, and defy the aging process. Infomercials abound with anti-aging products, work-out videos, etc., and friends on facebook are pushing AmWay-like products they think will work miracles. People spend much more time in the Gym, running, biking, etc. than they do in prayer and personal Bible study. But like in an old "Twilight Zone" episode, they don't realize how futile, vain, and ultimately useless their attempts are, and that end the end, we will all return to dust (unless we're alive when Jesus returns).
The Bible teaches that after death, we will all spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell, and will be given new bodies prepared for such eternal existence. Eternal life in this body would be eternal torment. This body was born to one day die. We can spend all our time, money, and efforts searching for the "Fountain of Youth", but will never find it in the natural realm. Most literature and movies dealing with the subject show a tragic end to such pursuits. In the words of Ecclesiastes, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity".
Now comes the answer my question. The Fountain of Youth-is it real?
Absolutely, but its just that we're "lookin for life in all the wrong places" (I know-a lame alteration of Mickey Gilley's "lookin for love in all the wrong places" lyrics-lol)
As I sat and pondered this morning, I was reminded of the encounter Jesus had with a woman at Jacob's well in Samaria, told in John Chapter 4. Jesus told the woman where the real fountain of youth is found, and how to partake of it and live forever. It's simple, and can be received by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It can't be found in Florida, in the Caribbean, in a pill, injection, in a Gym, or anywhere else but in the Lord Jesus Christ. So here's where the Fountain of Youth is spoken of in Scripture, and has been right under our noses all this time. Problem is, people are spending far too much time searching the world for answers, rather than searching the Scriptures.
I thought I was through typing, but just had another thought come to mind, where the "tree of life" is mentioned again by John, in Revelation 22. Adam and Eve were banned the Garden, and from its presence, but in the Eternal state, those in Christ will see and partake of it again.
How will your pursuit for the Fountain of Youth and/or the Tree of Life end? Futile? or Fruitful? Where will you spend eternity? Inside (Heaven)? or Outside (Hell)?
(originally posted in May 2013)
I'm sitting here Saturday morning in my easy chair, deep in thought, talking to and hearing from the Lord with my Bible opened to Isaiah. Today the earthly body of my Aunt, my Dad's baby sister, his last living relative from his immediate family (parents & siblings), will be laid to rest, while she is now in Heaven in the presence of Jesus. She has reunited with her sister who went before her, her daughter who went before her, her mother and father, as well as many others loved ones who died "in Christ".
Many thoughts are going through my head, pertaining to man (and woman's) endless pursuit to prolong the life in this body, keep it from aging, and try to defeat the natural process that was set in motion from the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they were cast out due to sin, and removed from the presence of the "Tree of Life".
From the ancient writings of Herodotus, to the explorations of Ponce de Leon in the 1500's, to the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie, men (and women) have been looking for the fountain of youth. I can also think of many more movies, literature, etc. that have "immortality" in the flesh as part of it's subject, such as "Tuck Everlasting", "Highlander", "Peter Pan and Neverland", etc., and even "Wolverine". Needless to say, I enjoy these kinds of stories and movies as much as the next person for "entertainment", but also realize the futility of such earthly pursuits.
In the pharmacy where I work I see on a daily basis people trying to defy the aging process. Men getting pills, injections, L'Oreal hair coloring kits, hair implants, all desperately seeking to defy the aging process and return to their youth. Women getting every kind of cosmetic plastic surgery, implants, etc. they can to try to look young, and defy the aging process. Infomercials abound with anti-aging products, work-out videos, etc., and friends on facebook are pushing AmWay-like products they think will work miracles. People spend much more time in the Gym, running, biking, etc. than they do in prayer and personal Bible study. But like in an old "Twilight Zone" episode, they don't realize how futile, vain, and ultimately useless their attempts are, and that end the end, we will all return to dust (unless we're alive when Jesus returns).The Bible teaches that after death, we will all spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell, and will be given new bodies prepared for such eternal existence. Eternal life in this body would be eternal torment. This body was born to one day die. We can spend all our time, money, and efforts searching for the "Fountain of Youth", but will never find it in the natural realm. Most literature and movies dealing with the subject show a tragic end to such pursuits. In the words of Ecclesiastes, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity".
In Isaiah 40 (ESV) the prophet wrote"
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,but the Word of our God will stand forever.
Now comes the answer my question. The Fountain of Youth-is it real?
Absolutely, but its just that we're "lookin for life in all the wrong places" (I know-a lame alteration of Mickey Gilley's "lookin for love in all the wrong places" lyrics-lol)
As I sat and pondered this morning, I was reminded of the encounter Jesus had with a woman at Jacob's well in Samaria, told in John Chapter 4. Jesus told the woman where the real fountain of youth is found, and how to partake of it and live forever. It's simple, and can be received by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It can't be found in Florida, in the Caribbean, in a pill, injection, in a Gym, or anywhere else but in the Lord Jesus Christ. So here's where the Fountain of Youth is spoken of in Scripture, and has been right under our noses all this time. Problem is, people are spending far too much time searching the world for answers, rather than searching the Scriptures.
John 4:13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this (earthly) water will be thirsty again,So there you have it-The Real Fountain of Youth, the Lord Jesus Christ!
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a SPRING of water WELLING UP to ETERNAL LIFE."
I thought I was through typing, but just had another thought come to mind, where the "tree of life" is mentioned again by John, in Revelation 22. Adam and Eve were banned the Garden, and from its presence, but in the Eternal state, those in Christ will see and partake of it again.
Rev 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the LambMy Aunt partook of this "Living Water" when she was but a child, and found the REAL Fountain of Youth, springing up to Eternal Life, which she is now partaking of in Heaven. Have you? If not, and you want to know more, send me a message and I'll be glad to share more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you and talk about how you can drink of this water too!
Rev 22:2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life...
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.
Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
How will your pursuit for the Fountain of Youth and/or the Tree of Life end? Futile? or Fruitful? Where will you spend eternity? Inside (Heaven)? or Outside (Hell)?
