I have a confession to make. I love to fight. I have been involved in some type of martial art most of my life and have trained in a variety of different systems. I own a second degree black belt in Wing Chun Kung Fu. As a police officer, nothing made me happier than some big drunk guy who said, “I am not going to jail and you can’t take me in!”
Here in Brazil, I am training in the system of Muay Thai kickboxing. It is a great way to learn Portuguese, hang out with unchurched people, and satisfy that part of me that still likes to spar. The problem is, I am on the other side of 50 years old. The average age of the people that I train with is about 22 years old. In most arenas of life, 50 is not that old. In full-contact fighting, 50 is ancient!
My skills have not completely left me but you can do the math. A 50 year old guy fighting with a bunch of 20 somethings is a bit of a challenge. And I love it. I don’t mind the bruises, aches, pains, and the occasional hard punch to the face.
The other night, though, I got home from training and could barely walk. The training had been really intense and I had taken a few hard kicks to the legs. I felt every bit of my age and Annie asked me if I was ok. “I’m fine. Just feeling a little old,” I answered.
Her response was incredibly profound. “Don’t worry. One day we will be younger.”
Isn’t that great? One day we will be younger. This is the hope of every Christ follower. For those who are not Christians, the only thing that they have to look forward to is getting older and eventually dying.
The amazing and incredible hope that Christians have is that we will be resurrected. Sure, our physical bodies are getting older and they will die. The promise of the New Testament, though, is that one day, we will be raised in the same way that Jesus was. The Apostle Paul said, “He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere.”
For those who are not following Christ, it is easy to dismiss this as just wishful thinking or something to comfort people with at a funeral. In reality, this is one of the most powerful hopes on the planet. Jesus is the only man in history to predict both His death and His resurrection. If the Guy who rose from the dead says He is going to raise me up one day too, I am going to believe Him!
What does this hope of getting older and getting younger mean to you?
Would you consider being a part of our team as we serve the Lord in Brazil? Together we can make a difference in so many people’s lives. Just click here to get involved. Obrigado!
