Dying Grasses

This autumn grass is stunning against the backdrop of taller, still-green pampas grass.

So many colors in one plant at the same time!

The beautiful bright colors are a forerunner of drab browns. Even the tall grass in the background will lose its green soon, although it will remain standing to sway in the winds of winter.

These grasses are perennial. They live on, even though they may look dead through the winter season.

And so it is with you and me.

The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people.

Isaiah 40:7 NLT

This body of flesh and bone that we inhabit will one day stop breathing. Our heart will stop beating, and our brain waves will slow to nothing.

The dead of winter will strike, and in the world’s eyes we will be gone. But that won’t be the end of us — spring is coming!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

We’ll rise to do what, exactly? No, we won’t be zombies, dead folks walking! The next verse helps answer that question:

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Not only will we join Christ in heaven, we’ll get a new physique!

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2

We have much to look forward to, even without going into the endless wonders of heaven. There is just one caveat: these promises are only for those who believe, who choose to follow Jesus in this life.

My friend, there is so much more to you than what you look like, how much you weigh, where you live, what your family is like, and what you can accomplish. Take all of that away, and you are still of infinite worth. You are adored by the Creator of heaven and earth, even in your failures and mistakes.

Take a bit of time today, maybe even outside with a view of colorful leaves, and rest in knowing that you are more than a dash between two dates. You are an endless being, who has a choice of where to spend forever. Will you choose to spend it with Jesus?

©Lauri Hawley 2022