The Real Fountain Of Youth Exists

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.