I have learned that things in life that are physical have “a shelf life.” When I was a kid, I hade a Daisy BB gun. It was awesome… almost shot my eye out once! But, just 60 years later, that piece of metal and plastic is lost and probably destroyed. That’s how it works with material (physical) things. In other words, material things can survive for a relatively short time. They can be enjoyed for a brief time. Clothes end up being given away and disintegrating in some trash heap; Sporting equipment goes out of fashion and then ages and come to nothing. Even, some of our most prized possessions (like a passed down firearm or a great-grandmothers wedding ring) may end up in a landfill in Georgia! For sure, they won’t last forever.
Invisible or intangible things are made of a different substance. They are sometimes not as easily observed or appreciated, but are nevertheless, of a substance that lasts so much longer. The cotton that was woven into a shirt was created by God. The wool from a sheep that is processed to become a sweater, was also created by God. Material things are not bad in themselves. They just don’t last very long. It just makes more sense to at least think about those things that are of an eternal nature.
So, what makes invisible things more durable, more lasting, more real? Well, first, let me point out some of the invisible, intangible things that seem to have greater life attached to them; qualities such as, humility, forgiveness, love, mercy, kindness, understanding, legacy, and we could probably list a hundred of these life qualities that make life so amazing.
Here’s wha I’ve learned… God, the Creator of everything, is a spirit. A spirit is not something physically seen (like a sunset or a deer in the woods). God’s Spirit operates and allows us to live at a higher level. When we understood Him enough to accept his offer of eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus, we became spiritually alive! Physical things now hold less attraction for us. We are able to understand spiritual truths more easily. Yes, we are still human and have a human body with all its limitations and problems, but we are able to step up to a higher level of living…. God’s spiritual level. Living at a higher spiritual level allows us to experience more of the higher qualities that we say are invisible. These spiritual realities give life a new meaning and a new and greater joy.
In the New Testament (Galatians 5:22) a great leader talked about what a spiritual life looks like. He said, “… The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Note than nothing is mentioned about physical possessions. It is interesting to observe that we spend great amounts of time and energy trying to possess more and more material things (homes, cars, accomplishments, etc.), but they always leave us unsatisfied and needing “more.”
For you who need to understand the difference between material success and real success, I guess this article (post) is for you. Receive what you can and let it soak. Maybe it’s time to grab hold of the unseen life… a life of faith in God through belief in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. By taking this step, you can be spiritually born and experience a new life! Let me know if I can help.
Leave a comment