On Mind and In My Heart

   

     Who else loves a good analogy? As I awoke this morning my thoughts were on those time-lapsed photos of a flower bursting forth from a tiny bud into a glorious and exquisite blossom filled with beauty. I picture a rose. That is usually where the photography ends but my mind continued through the remainder of that process.
     In my vision the edges of the petals slowly began to fade into brown, the blossom began to shrivel, a few petals drifted downward, the leaves went limp and eventually it dried completely up and fell off the stem tumbling to the ground below.
     This is what the  journey of life is like. A tiny embryo begins to develop in the womb. It opens and blossoms like a flower as limbs, tiny fingers and toes, other features and details, even hair begin to spring forth. It bursts forth at birth much like the rose in full, glorious bloom yet for humans, it is the beginning. We are so very incomplete at that stage.
      In the following years, the newborn becomes more alert and even cuter than before. It develops physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually into a full fledged human being, exquisite and glorious in its very existence. It may also become a free thinking, strong-willed and sometimes rebellious person.
     Eventually it will grow old, wrinkles and brown spots appear, hair loss like petals blowing in the wind occurs. It begins to droop a bit perhaps from the weight its shoulders have born for too long. Eventually it fades, shrivels and dies just like the rose.
     But also like the rose it will live again in a new and glorious body. The roots of the rosebush are strong and get their strength and nourishment from sun, rain and minerals in the soil. It will bloom forth the following season if nurtured by a loving caretaker.
     Our old bodies are buried in a grave to await the resurrection when they will be reunited with our spirits and live again, this time in the presence of our Creator. On that splendid day, we shall burst forth immortalized and exalted in His presence.
     The difference is that the rose doesn't have a spirit in the same sense that we humans possess. It is destined to blossom and peak in it's boundless beauty without effort.
     However, for us we must do something to achieve our eternal glory. We must travel an often lonely and difficult path that frequently feels uphill in every direction.
     Unlike the rose, we are not alone. The Lord has blessed us with His Comforter to accompany us on our journey IF we accept Jesus and strive to live as He would have us do each and every step of the way. He has even blessed us with an unimaginable gift--repentance, to help us overcome and be forgiven for our sins.
     We may be the gardener for the rose bush but we cannot do the same for ourselves. We must rely on the Savior of the World to lead us and the Holy Spirit to teach us. We cannot lean on our own understanding as the Psalmist wrote. We cannot successfully reach our destination when our scriptures sit on a shelf gathering dust. We cannot understand God's word through osmosis. We cannot attain our goal by sitting on our laurels and watching or worse waiting for others to serve.

Molly Studying Scriptures By Osmosis

     Jesus was the perfect example of serving others, loving unconditionally, and encouraging the downtrodden and brokenhearted. Do we emulate Him or do we watch from afar criticizing, judging, grumbling and complaining all the way? He has given us the choice and the ones we make have everlasting consequences.
     In 2 Timothy 3:7-8 we see the example of those who resist the spirit. Chapter 4 verse 4 comes with an alert, "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables."
I John 5:6 in part tells us, ". . . And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."
    Do we decide what we believe based on what we feel or wish? Do we listen blindly to preachers who tell us what we want to hear? Do we go to church to be entertained? Do we mistake or confuse an emotional experience with a spiritual one? If anyone answers even one of these questions in the affirmative they stand in danger.
     Well worn scriptures are a blessing. Don't let yours gather dust on a shelf. Use them daily. Use them up and pray for guidance to understand them. All the answers to every dilemma we face are there if we prayerfully seek for it. 
    "Be still and know that I am God," still applies. We need to prayerfully search the Word, take time to listen and seek the truth for Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free." So look for the Son. Seek Him. He anxiously awaits each of us to come to Him constantly and to rely on His arm rather than our own flawed understanding. Make sure the Light we seek is from the Son.