Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Of Breath Skin and Bones

[1]   
Thursday, April 9, 2015
So I spoke this message, just as he told me.  Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley.  The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.  Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones.  Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.  Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man.  Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  Come, O breath, from the four winds!  Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”  So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies.  They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.  Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel.  They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone.  Our nation is finished.’  Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again.  Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said.  Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”  Ezekiel 37:7-14 (NLT)
Dr. Fredric Brandt was the Botox doctor to the stars; he used Botox products to curtail the effects of aging, such as wrinkles in the skin, or the typical crows-feet around the eyes and brows.  He also wrote books and hosted a radio show to promote his practice. 
The 65 year-old celebrity doctor's body was discovered this past Monday in a Miami home.  The police have reportedly ruled the death a suicide.  Considering our culture’s obsession with the physical appearance, it is no wonder Dr. Brandt’s Botox services were in high demand.
When Ezekiel looked at the valley of dry bones, representing what was left of Israel’s glory, it was a bleached, barren sight.  The bones were very dry!  God told the prophet to speak to the bones and they came back together, muscles, flesh, tendons, skin and all.  The bodies were perfectly put back together; still, they lacked one thing – breath!
Reality – all the Botox in the universe could not have done better in making those bodies look perfect.  However, as good as they looked they lacked what only God gives – spirit!
Now this is a critical observation, and I don’t want you to think I’m against looking as good as you can, but the line is crossed when physical appearance becomes more important than spiritual vitality.  Paul the apostle nailed it for his up-and-coming pastor-protégé, Timothy:
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
In eternity God will grant us a glorified body like Christ’s, with no imperfections.  But too many people spend an inordinate amount of time and attention in this present life trying to hold back the wrinkles of skin and crows-feet, while neglecting the growth of spirit and godliness in their soul.
These physical bodies in which we live this life are temples for the Holy Spirit of God, and we ought not to abuse them; we are stewards of everything God has given.  However, the engine of this body is the soul, spirit and mind. 
When you look at the pictures of Dr. Brandt it’s obvious the doctor practiced on himself what he preached.  However, all the Botox and other procedures didn’t change the fact that the physical appearance he labored hard to achieve and maintain could not keep him from the grave.
And within a relatively short period of time the body he tried to preserve will be food for worms.  We can only hope his soul was in better condition.

For You Today

Did you work out this morning?  Did you take your vitamins and orange juice?  Take the shower, use deodorant, trim what needs trimming, comb, spruce up, cover and dress all the best you know how?

Good.

Did you leave something out?



[1] Title Images: Roanoke News (Roanoake.com) Dermatologist Fredric Brandt found dead at Miami home

No comments:

Post a Comment