Why are a bouquet of roses so much more desiring on a Valentine’s day morning than a rose bush? Is it because of the picture and the beauty of the arrangement at the moment compared to a random rose bush with only occasional flowers? Perhaps. But what about the long-term investment? Even if at first glance the dozen roses look so much more stunning than the rose bush, if the ultimate desire is for roses long term, the bush does seem to amount better, doesn’t it? One can try their best to continue to prolong the decay of a bouquet of roses as much as they want – and there are treatments for this. However, death is still death, what’s being delayed to come, will still inevitably come.

In a similar way, the death of every human is coming, no matter how promising life looks at the moment. To invest into the last ditch efforts of making the fading life worth while is, in eternity’s eyes, very short sighted. When Jesus says that He has come to give life, what He was pointing to was life from His viewpoint – life abundant and eternal. Ironically, as the mortal human life decays and ultimately finds death, the Christian has in himself a seed that is growing to ultimate fulfillment. If this is the ultimate reality, why are so many Christ-followers not finding this?

The growth is not always easy nor sudden. It takes time and effort, but it happens. As the Christian grows he is told to seek an overwhelming comfort of life abundant and peace – despite his outward circumstance. It is no wonder then that the Scriptures speak of life in the Story of God this way: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:5). Could this be a glimpse of what it means to walk from death to life?

Application Questions

What does it mean “to set the mind on the flesh?”

What does it mean “to set the mind on the Spirit?”

What are the hindrances you face that prevent you from keeping your mind on the Spirit and the things of the Spirit?

What are you doing about this?

In what ways is the Spirit giving life to your mortal body at the moment (Rom 8:11)?