Fw: life after life

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Smith <toanosmith@yahoo.com>
To: Rob Smith <rsmith@mycwa.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 1, 2017 8:12 AM
Subject: life after life

1 Timothy 3:

¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated by the Spirit,
        seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
        taken up in glory.

This verse seems to be a phrase from an ancient Christian hymn or chorus that was sung in the earliest churches.  It has a similar ring to the great historic creeds that came later.  You can picture the assemblies gathering and affirming their faith through this concise summary of its essential elements.  The word "mystery" is used to introduce the phrase.  It is interesting that our greatest needs are met through mystery.  And we are humbled by the reality that the greatest truths are beyond our human plans but not beyond God's.  This lovely song reminds us that God had to act on our behalf if we were to find the life that follows this life.  We needed to see and know one who had come from that life...shared this life...and then returned to that life.  Otherwise we naturally would think that this life is all there is.  And, of course, great is the mystery even of this life...with the wonder of each of our births...the design of family to raise the child to adulthood...the beauty of seasons and of nature.  But we needed the Pioneer Rescuer, named Savior, to demonstrate that there is life beyond this life and that we can follow Him to find it.  Our hope is founded on this mystery but this mystery was prophesied for centuries before it took place and now is confirmed in our hearts as we bow to its author.

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It is good to be reminded in early spring that there is life beyond life.

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blessings,

Rob Smith