Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s identify some shortcomings of firsts.

Today’s scripture, 1 Corinthians 15:45‭-‬51 (NLT) explains…
The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!

Consider…
Mark Twain said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

Mr Twain’s quote espouses wisdom comes with age. However, comedic actress Carol Burnett said, “Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional”. Her quote asserts age and wisdom are not synonymous.

In the same way age isn’t synonymous with wisdom, first isn’t synonymous with best.

Yesterday we looked at God’s topsy-turvy view of first and greatest. Today’s scripture provides another contrary perspective on being first. We could caption today’s scripture, ‘the frailty of first’.

Today’s scripture contrast the frailty of the first man, Adam to the Omnipotence of the last Adam, Jesus Christ.

• The first Adam lived, but the last Adam gives life.
• The first Adam was made from the dust of the earth by the last Adam.
• The first Adam was earth bound, but the second Adam was Heaven sent.
• The first Adam was formed with physical restrictions, but the second Adam transforms and unrestricts.

As you can see, the Adam created in Genesis 2:7 is limited in nature, but Christ, as described in John 1:1-5 is limitless.

So what does that mean for us? Well, today’s scripture points out the fact that…
Earthly people are like the earthly man

In lieu of that we should pray like the Psalmist…
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer thain the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude – Psalms 39:4‭-‬5 NLT

It’s important to remember that the life we’re living here on earth will end. Therefore we must focus on what will last more than what came first. Said another way, we need to focus on the Heavenly man we will be more than the earthly man we are currently.

Paul said it this way in Colossians 3:2 (NLT)…
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Baseball’s great Satchel Paige said,
“Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”

I agree with Mr. Paige’s premise. However, I humbly submit that rather than obsessing on staying young or growing old, that we instead seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Peter 3:18

You see growing in Christ is growing in life. Please recall we read earlier that Christ is a life-giving Spirit.

In fact, Jesus said…
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 KJV

I believe God wants us to understand that now is part of eternity, and because of that He wants us to begin experiencing all that He has in store for us while we’re here on earth. I believe this because Jesus taught us to pray…
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10 KJV

That seems like God wants us to experience His Kingdom here on earth to me. However notice He wants us to experience it like it is in Heaven. That means we need to be transformed into that Heavenly man that we read about to experience God’s Kingdom.

So change your perspective and focus. When we belong to Christ, we’re not growing old gracefully, but we’re being transformed by grace to live Heavenly, just like the last Man!

Today’s song is…
Change Me

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)