For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:53
“We think it better to despise the things that are here, since they are brief, short-lived, and perishable, and to love those other things, which are good and imperishable. For by doing the will of Christ we will find a place of rest; on the other hand, nothing will deliver us from eternal punishment if we disobey His commandments.”
Clement of Rome (A.D. 35-99) in his Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:6-7.
It’s fascinating to read the first and second letter to the Corinthians authored by the Apostle Paul next to the two letters of Clement of Rome penned 30 years later.
Don’t get me wrong. Nothing can touch the Scriptures. It’s just cool to see apostolic fathers, like Clement, inspiring God’s people to stay the course and not focus on that which is “brief, short-lived, and perishable.”
I’ve had a weekend with a focus on the eternal. It was a joy to see former students, Eric Fleshood and Andre Sergeyev, and then to visit with my parents, my brother and sister, and then Ted Blount.
Today I fly from Orlando to Cleveland. I will see my sister who just got the news that she has ovarian cancer. Regardless of the prognosis, I love her perspective. She’s focused on “doing the will of Christ.”
When we do that, no matter the circumstances. We find peace and rest. What about you? Do the circumstances in this crazy world have you feeling immobilized or are you focused on doing the will of Christ?
Aim at the former and live in fear. Aim at the latter and find that the the gift of knowing Christ in crazy times (or in a cancer journey) is peace and rest.