In the Genes
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned"--Romans 5:12.
On March 3, 2011, the New York Times ran an article on David Murdock, entitled, "The Billionaire Who is Planning His 125th Birthday." Murdock is an 87 year-old billionaire who wants to live to be 125 years old. In order to accomplish his goal he has become a health food expert using his money to construct research facilities "dedicated to his conviction that plant, eaten in copious quantities and the right variety, hold the promise of optimal health and maximal life span." He has dedicated himself to living a long life and will do anything in order to get there, but "not so fast," say most doctors. Noting he has "ideal blood pressure, clear arteries," and good muscle tone. They doubt these will carry him to 125. They point out that he didn't adopt his healthful lifestyle until his 60's, and they note that genes often trump behavior.
Dedicating himself to reach 125 years old is a worthwhile endeavor and his new eating habits and exercise routine may add a few years onto his already long life, but the doctors are right, we can't change our genes. Physical changes do help us, but they cannot stop death. Physical choices cannot stop spiritual realities.
We can't change our genes. Our genes, like everything else within us, passed through the Fall. Our physical problems have a spiritual root, as Paul wrote, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord"--Romans 6:23. We do work in order to earn wages, and the sin that we do, like work, will result in payment -- death.
Sin affected our DNA, and no matter how hard we try, we can't change the fact that we are sinners by nature and by choice. And the sure sign that we are sinners is by our inevitable death. Everyone has sin, therefore everyone dies.
How did sin enter into our DNA? Through the Fall. The single greatest defining event in history, outside of the person of Christ entering into our world, is the Fall. It is, by far and away, the defining moment of our humanity. We all experience the residual effects of the Fall through the sinful natures that have been passed down from our first parents. It is because of their sin that we are in the state we are in. It is because of their one act of disobedience that we experience pain, suffering, and death. Sin entered into the world through one man and death right along with it. And from that one sin, death spread to all men, as Paul wrote, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned"--Romans 5:12.
We all die in Adam, but in Christ, we can be made alive! He is the second Adam, succeeding where Adam failed,
"For if, because of one's man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass, led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous"--Romans 5:17-19.
Without Christ, we are lost. Death is the end. If it weren't for the resurrection we would be hopeless. But Jesus rose from the dead! Life has been transformed! Death is not the end! It is through the cross that the affects of the Fall were reversed and it is through Christ that we can have new life! Take time to praise Him for His love-giving life-changing act! Take time to thank God for what He has done through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and resurrection of the dead! Amen.
On March 3, 2011, the New York Times ran an article on David Murdock, entitled, "The Billionaire Who is Planning His 125th Birthday." Murdock is an 87 year-old billionaire who wants to live to be 125 years old. In order to accomplish his goal he has become a health food expert using his money to construct research facilities "dedicated to his conviction that plant, eaten in copious quantities and the right variety, hold the promise of optimal health and maximal life span." He has dedicated himself to living a long life and will do anything in order to get there, but "not so fast," say most doctors. Noting he has "ideal blood pressure, clear arteries," and good muscle tone. They doubt these will carry him to 125. They point out that he didn't adopt his healthful lifestyle until his 60's, and they note that genes often trump behavior.
Dedicating himself to reach 125 years old is a worthwhile endeavor and his new eating habits and exercise routine may add a few years onto his already long life, but the doctors are right, we can't change our genes. Physical changes do help us, but they cannot stop death. Physical choices cannot stop spiritual realities.
We can't change our genes. Our genes, like everything else within us, passed through the Fall. Our physical problems have a spiritual root, as Paul wrote, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord"--Romans 6:23. We do work in order to earn wages, and the sin that we do, like work, will result in payment -- death.
Sin affected our DNA, and no matter how hard we try, we can't change the fact that we are sinners by nature and by choice. And the sure sign that we are sinners is by our inevitable death. Everyone has sin, therefore everyone dies.
How did sin enter into our DNA? Through the Fall. The single greatest defining event in history, outside of the person of Christ entering into our world, is the Fall. It is, by far and away, the defining moment of our humanity. We all experience the residual effects of the Fall through the sinful natures that have been passed down from our first parents. It is because of their sin that we are in the state we are in. It is because of their one act of disobedience that we experience pain, suffering, and death. Sin entered into the world through one man and death right along with it. And from that one sin, death spread to all men, as Paul wrote, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned"--Romans 5:12.
We all die in Adam, but in Christ, we can be made alive! He is the second Adam, succeeding where Adam failed,
"For if, because of one's man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass, led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous"--Romans 5:17-19.
Without Christ, we are lost. Death is the end. If it weren't for the resurrection we would be hopeless. But Jesus rose from the dead! Life has been transformed! Death is not the end! It is through the cross that the affects of the Fall were reversed and it is through Christ that we can have new life! Take time to praise Him for His love-giving life-changing act! Take time to thank God for what He has done through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and resurrection of the dead! Amen.
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