THE REAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH EXISTS
Every man and woman longs to find the fountain of youth, to live forever and to be eternally young. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us of The One who has made everything appropriate in its time has also “set eternity in our hearts.” Mankind doesn’t want to die, he doesn’t want to grow old – he wants to live forever. Men and women desire to have the perfect body and the perfect mind. We long to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not get tired and to walk and not become weary. We do not like the thought of getting older and facing our own mortality even when the signs are all around us.
The billions of dollars spent each year in this country on cosmetic surgery alone are but evidences of this desire in mankind and a form of escapism from reality. The identity and self-worth of many people are attached to their outward appearance and perceived ability to turn back the hands of time. Oh, the money that is spent on that which is but a substitute for the real thing. The pain and suffering so many endure for that which at best is but a temporary reprieve from the inevitable corruption that will one day have its way. But I am here to tell you that the REAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH EXISTS. It is possible to live forever and be eternally young in a body that will not age or need plastic reconstructive surgery to maintain outward appearances. Trust me when I say it is possible for you to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not get tired and to walk and not get weary – it is possible to never know sickness, pain or death.
The Fountain of Youth is real and referred to in the Bible, God’s Holy Word. The Apostle Paul speaks of it in Romans 8:18-25 by his use of the word “glory” and it promises to fulfill every hope and desire God had in mind when he set eternity in our heart. In this wonderful passage of Scripture, Paul reveals four truths concerning this fountain of youth that is available to us. First, THIS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH IS WORTH FAR MORE THAN ANY SUFFERING IT MAY COST. Paul says in verse 18, “For I consider that sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” This statement comes from a man who knew what it was like to suffer for Christ. A review of Paul’s sufferings is listed in 2 Corinthians 11 if you’d like to read them. He told the churches at Corinth: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, in so much that we despaired even of life.” (2 Corinthians 1:8). Yet in spite of his sufferings, Paul rejoiced. He considered suffering for Christ a gift: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). Paul also considered suffering for Christ one of his three gains in life: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10). So, Paul cherished the fellowship of the Lord’s sufferings for he knew it was producing great gain in his Christian life. God gave Paul the spiritual insight to see that great gain through suffering is but a temporary light affliction because of the eternal weight in glory that awaits us. But the future for the believer is more than a fountain of youth, it is words inexpressible. Today people suffer through painful cosmetic surgery, grueling workouts and crash diets to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:25). Brothers and sisters, nothing is worthy to be compared with the glorious fountain of youth that is to be revealed to us.
Second, THIS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FREES US FROM THE SLAVERY OF CORRUPTION. Paul says, “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. That the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” By the use of the word “also” (vs. 21), Paul says, all creation is subjected along with mankind to the slavery of corruption. The rose that blooms in all its beauty soon fades and its petals fall. All living creatures fall prey to the “survival of the fitness” and have an appointed time to live and an appointed time to die. And the Bible says of man, “It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.” The photographs of long ago that capture us in our prime cannot keep us there because this world is under a slavery of corruption. Every champion’s fame soon fades and is replaced by another.
Solomon vividly captures man’s physical decline to the slavery of corruption in Ecclesiastes 12:1-4: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them: before the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are darkened (failing eyesight), and clouds return after the rain (aches and pains); in the day that the watchmen of house (the legs) tremble, and mighty men stoop (bowed shoulders), the grinding ones stand idle because they are few (loss of teeth), and those who look through windows grow dim; and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughter of song will sing softly (loss of hearing).”
In contrast, can you imagine the flower that never fades, the family pet that never dies or the athlete that is always in his prime decade after decade? How about furniture that never needs to be dusted, the car that never needs to be washed or the house that never needs to be painted? Is such an existence possible? A glimmer of this reality is seen in the wilderness march where the shoes of the Hebrews did not wear out for forty years. But this glory Paul refers to is not a sustaining of the old creation but a fulfillment of the new creation. Paul says creation will be freed from the slavery to corruption (old creation) “into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (vs. 21). Can you imagine the freedom of not battling the Flesh, the World or Satan? This will be the total fulfillment of John 8:36: “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” The life The Spirit now imparts to us by faith will be lived in reality everyday for eternity. Can you imagine no more oppressive attacks from Satan, no more alluring enticements from the World and no more battles with the Flesh waging war with the soul? What a glorious day that will be for all creation!
Third, THIS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PROMISES US A GLORIFIED BODY. But Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:50: “Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” Thus Paul says in verse 51: “Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15: 51, 53). Therefore, an incorruptible, immortal, glorified body awaits you and I that are in Christ. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Paul says, “And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Paul refers to this in his letter to the Philippians: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21).” But for now and for our encouragement, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” He explains that in this earthly tent: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9), 14, 16). This is further symbolized by the six water pots of stone in John 2:10-11: “And there were set six water pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.” Our mortal bodies are like the stone water pots, which God saves, fills with His Spirit and uses to quench the thirst of seeking sinners with the water of life when by faith they draw out the sweet wine of redemption.
Four, THIS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH GIVES US FAITH TO PERSEVERE AND WAIT EAGERLY IN HOPE. Paul says in verses 24-25, “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” This power of God’s glory to sustain us is evident throughout Scripture and a guarantee of our glorious future. Hebrews 11:27 tells us this of Moses: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Finally, the writer of Hebrews uses Jesus as our perfect example: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Brothers and sisters in Christ, the fountain of youth is real if you are in Christ. As you consider these great truths, I pray you “…keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you form stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 21-25)
