LOWER

   LIGHTS

  Alan Jones, Editor

  (734) 942-7956

     Do you realize that what you see in the mirror is not really you? You are only looking at the tent for the invisible you (2 Cor 4:16; 5:1). You will continue to exist after you put off your body in death. Men may kill your body, but they cannot kill the invisible you, your soul (Mt 10:28). When you die, while your body goes to the grave to corrupt, your soul will go to Hades (Acts 2:31). At the resurrection, your soul will be clothed with a changed, immortal body (1 Cor 15:50-57, 2 Cor 5:2-4). You will then be judged by the deeds you did while you lived in the tent you see in the mirror and you will receive either the sentence of eternal life or eternal condemnation (2 Cor 5:10; Jn 5:28-29; Mt 25:46).

     You give so much thought and care to the man or woman that you see in the mirror. You wash and groom it, you put lotions and perfumes on it, you feed it, you exercise it, you give it rest, you give it medicine to help it to get well and to take away its pain. You give so much thought to the needs of the tent that will soon perish, but how much thought have you given to needs of the real you inside that will live forever?

     What does your soul need? Your soul needs to be saved. Saved from what? Saved from your sin and the consequences of your sin. Saved from  the wrath  of God and  eternal punishment

because of what you have done against Him. Sin has ruined your relationship with God. God is perfectly holy and without sin and cannot have a relationship with those who have sinned. And, what can you do to make amends, to restore your relationship with God, to escape His wrath? Nothing. Have you thought about your soul? You need to recognize its desperate condition. When you do, you will find yourself filled with guilt, sadness, and fear.

     But, the good news is that God reconciled you to Himself through the death of His Son Jesus on the cross. Jesus, who knew no sin, was punished for your sins. Now that a satisfactory price (what a high price it was!) was paid for your sins, God is willing to forgive you and no longer count your sins against you (2 Cor 5:18-21).