“DYING DAILY AND RENEWED DAILY”
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, New Living Translation)
A friend of mine took his own life a few days ago. He was a good man, who always reminded me that I am a good man.
What brings a person to such a decision?
Life, I suppose. Or, at least, the struggles of life.
Sometimes, we don’t know the struggles, the ghosts from the past, the inner demons, that haunt even the apparently cheerful people who make other people happy. In this case, I knew many of my friend’s struggles. However, I didn’t see this coming. Perhaps we never do.
The Scripture verse for the day on the YouVersion of the Bible was 2 Corinthians 4:16. I looked at the verse in the Greek. I was not surprised to find that all the verbs in this verse are in the present tense. The present tense in Greek often suggests a continual, ongoing, repetitive action. Paul says that he and his helpers “never give up” (present tense). Although their bodies are continually dying (present tense), their spirits are being continually renewed (present tense).
Death is continually working in us and on us sinners. But for believers, God is always working in us and on us, too. And God’s work in our spirits is far more powerful than death’s work in our bodies.
Choosing life is never easy. I understand those who choose death instead. But just because a choice is easy, that doesn’t mean that it is right.
Socrates was asked, near the end of his life, if suicide wasn’t a wise choice. Socrates responded that there was a secret whispered among the gods that we are not our own jailor, and that we have no right to let ourselves out of their cell.
My friend was more loved and valued than he knew. Perhaps we all are. And no matter how difficult life may be—or is—we are unwise to end it prematurely. Being continually renewed day by day isn’t easy, but then, nothing worthwhile is likely to be easy. Even God doesn’t exist to make things easy. But God does make things possible.
I plan to get on with living. How about you?
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