Dry Bones

The kingdom of Israel is scattered like dry bones in the desert and God is telling Ezekiel once again to prophesy to the people. God will bring the bones back together and the Lord says to these bones "I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord." As Ezekiel begins his prophecy, he hears the noise of the bones being brought together. They are en fleshed and skin covers them, but there was no breath in them. There is no life in them until the Spirit of God breathes into "the slain that they might live."

In our culture we are big on bones, tendons, and flesh. Many senior women take medication to strengthen their fragile bones. Work out centers and YMCA's are filled with seniors who faithfully exercise to preserve their muscle tone, strength and endurance. Advertisers produce glamorous ads encouraging us to use creams to preserve the skin, botox to combat the wrinkles, and hair dye to disguise the gray hairs that age our appearance and remind us that the end is near. Yes, we are truly big on body image. Ezekiel would have us know that in spite of all our efforts to assemble a fit body, if the breath of God is not in us, there is no life. It is true that it might be possible to extend years and look younger, but real life has little to do with body image. Real life, full life, energizing life comes from the Spirit of God breathing its life into us. And if that spirit-life is within us it will exude life even if the body itself is deteriorating. Paul says: "Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

So how about you? Where are you putting your "eyes"? On preserving a body that is wasting away? Or are your eyes fixed on the unseen? Is the Holy Spirit breathing its life in you day by day? Are you exuding a life and energy that comes from within? Is that life growing more into the likeness of Jesus Christ with each passing day? In your spirit being made ready to occupy that wonderful new body that Christ has for you upon his return?

Now, obviously, there is balance need here. We are meant to care for our bodies, they are the present temple of the Holy Spirit. But when the attention becomes more on the upkeep of the deteriorating structure than in nourishing the Spirit within, we are in trouble. As we age I believe we are meant to accept the fact that these present dry bones are wasting away in order to make room for the wondrous new bodies that God has prepared for us (1 Corinthians 4)--those that have glory, power and spiritual depth. The wasting away holds great promise for something new taking its place. We live in hope that this life, this body are not ending, but merely transitioning to something far better. So, let it be!