That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

I just celebrated another birthday recently. My birth certificate says I turned 39 years old, but I really don't feel that age. In fact, I am not sure what age I feel. At times I feel like a small child full of energy, vitality, mischief, and joy. At times I feel like an adolescent going through so many changes that I can't even begin to understand. At times I feel like a young adult excited about my life and looking forward to the new opportunities that each day holds. At times I feel like a mature adult dealing well with all the problems that life throws at me but knowing that even more are on the way. At times I feel like an old sage with a hundred years of wisdom in me that I want to share with the whole world.

Life is forever.

I know, however, that whatever age I might be feeling like on the inside or looking like on the outside, I am, in truth, ageless. We are all eternal souls just spending a brief time in these bodies that we are given here. In truth, we never really grow old and we never really die. We just learn and love our way through this life and on to the next.

Life is glorious and life is forever. We should all live our lives to the fullest no matter what age our birth certificates say we are. We should all live our lives with goodness, peace, happiness, and delight no matter how old or weak our bodies get. We should all live with love in our hearts, with joy in our lives, and with God in our souls no matter if we are 8 days old or 108 years old.

The only things you take with you into the next life are the love you share, the joy you give, the oneness you have with Jesus as Lord and the unity with others you share in Jesus as you live this life. Anything else is a waste of time. May we all live then with a love and joy that are ageless and with a oneness with God that is eternal.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)

See the Morning by Chris Tomlin Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.

Joseph is a member of the Just a Minute writing team.

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