So where does this talk about houses and gardens lead? Well, to the people in them. Us.
Humans are hybrids, creatures of earth, also creations of heaven (So the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:6-8 International Standard Version)
Like houses, we inescapably break down. Like gardens, we vigorously strain toward life. (I was reminded just today that Baby Boomers are the elderly who are at risk in the age of Covid. Funny, I don’t feel elderly.)
The Apostle Paul explains this dissonance:
… the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:21-23 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Freedom from death and decay, released into the glory of new bodies.” Because, as C. S. Lewis says, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” A body – on loan to us – needing care, because no one I know wants to deliberately self-destruct.
Even the best care won’t stave off breakdowns. But rescue is coming:
I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4 Living Bible
Until then, I will walk, take vitamins, eat veggies, and watch my cholesterol. I know you are taking care, too. But most of all,
We must hold on to God’s promise that we have said we believed.
And we must never let go. He has promised and he will do it.
Hebrews 10:23 Worldwide English (New Testament)
Because no matter our chronological age,
Christians, who are destined by God to live forever,
are young.