Jump Start # 2216

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”

Inside and outside. What was happening on the outside was not affecting the inside. The inside and the outside were going in opposite directions. The outer man represents the body. It was falling apart. Paul’s words are, it’s decaying. The next verse adds more to this. There it says, light affliction. Those are polite words to define persecution. The inner man, our spirit, hope, outlook, soul was remaining fresh, invigorating and actually getting better.

These words, carrying through the first part of the next chapter, reveal an amazing and complex difference between our outside and our inside. Here are some added thoughts:

First, we can’t control the outside very much. We can’t do much about the weather. We can’t stop things from happening to us. Sickness, disease, accidents are all part of being connected to the outside man. We don’t live in a bubble. We cut our fingers opening the mail. We stub out toes walking in the dark. We catch colds from being cold and wet. We get tired. The outer man goes through a lot and on top of that we age, wear out and fall apart. We can try to eat well, but things still happen.

Second, what happens on the outside is not an indication of what happens on the inside. We can be cold, wet and miserable on the outside, but that does not mean our spirit, attitude and outlook must be the same. We can be diseased, sickly and dying, but our hearts can be encouraged, strong and hopeful.

Third, even though we can’t do much about the outside, we control the inside. We do this with our homes. The weather can be nasty on the outside, but inside our homes can be warm and comfortable. Paul is not talking about weather nor our homes, but our spirits. A person who is grumpy, has chosen to be that way. He has allowed the outside to determine the inside. Our attitudes, spirit, joyfulness, outlook are all set and determined by us. As my friend Barbara Johnson so often wrote, ‘Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional.’

Fourth, I am responsible for the way my inner man is shaped. This is a point that very few understand. They allow the outside to determine the inside. This is why happiness is the religion of choice. I want to be happy. I want a happy marriage. I want a church that makes me happy. I want to work at a place that makes me happy. I saw recently where a man was suing McDonald’s because after eating a Happy Meal he was still miserable. He missed it. The world misses it. They are counting upon someone else to set the tone of their inside. You control that thermostat. You can be cheerful or you can be a dark cloud everywhere you go. So, you work around toxic people. You don’t have to let them determine the color of your inside. Things are stressful at the moment. Are you going to allow that to shape how you feel on the inside? You don’t feel the best today, is that going to be the choice of your outlook, attitude and words? We too often point our finger to the circumstances that we are going through. Things are tough, so I’m negative. Things are hard, so I’m depressed. We allow the outside to shape the inside. And, from our first point, since we do not control the outside, we are going along for the ride. I can’t help it, we convince ourselves, that I’m negative. Look at my day. I can’t help it that I’m complaining, look at what I am going through. And, by saying these things, we excuse our sour disposition and pass it off on our circumstances and by doing this we deny what this passage is saying. Paul said the outer man is decaying. That’s not a good word. You would never eat decaying food. We toss those things out of the frig. That’s every reason to look in the mirror and sigh. It’s enough to pull the blanket over our heads and say, “What’s the use.” But that’s not what Paul said. The outer man was decaying but the inner man was renewed day by day.

It’s about time for us to stop tolerating negative, sour, bitter and complaining hearts—both in our homes and in the church. Get over it, is what Paul says. So things are going well, what’s your excuse for being a real pain to those around you? Quit using your circumstances to hide a sour spirit that you have chosen to live with.

Today, as we head out, we will pick out what we will wear. Our choice is reflected by the weather. Where I live, short sleeves are just about finished for the year. The weather will dictate sweaters, jackets and our choice. But as we head out today, we also pick out what attitude, spirit and optimism we will wear. Those are not based upon what is happening outside. Someone who is grumpy, short, complaining and negative, has chosen that. Don’t blame what is happening to you. You are in the driver’s seat of your inner man. This is a lesson that begins at home. We allow our children to have a sour spirit because of what is happening to them. They never learn the difference. They grow up and it’s the same. And, where I live, it’s amazing how the weather impacts one’s mood. Gray, dark days as fall moves into winter, is exactly the way people are on the inside. The professionals have even developed words to define this winter syndrome. Don’t help people by buying into this. You are what you have chosen to be. A jailed apostle would tell the Philippian brethren to rejoice. Your spirit isn’t shaped by where you are, but by who you are. It’s your choice.

Finally, Paul said that the inner man was renewed day by day. Renewed. Every so often you have to “renew” your driver’s license. When you do that, it’s like you have a brand new license. It’s now good for a few more years. Here, he’s talking about our inner man. It’s renewed, or new again. This is happening daily. This is happening by their actions. It doesn’t happen automatically. It doesn’t happen to everyone. But for the child of God, even in the era of persecution and trouble, his heart was getting stronger and better daily. How? By connecting with the Lord. By praying. By worshipping. By surrounding himself with godly people. By deciding that he was going to live joyfully and thankfully. By filling his heart with God’s word and hope. Now, every day, the outside isn’t always nice. Bad weather. Mean people. Unfortunate circumstances. Accidents. Trouble. Those things happen almost daily on the outside. But the inside was getting better and better, every day. Choices. Faith. Hope. Seeing the Lord. Those are the components of an inner man that was being renewed day by day.

It’s going to be a dark rainy day where I live. But I will decide if it is going to be a dark day on my inside. It’s time we took control of the inner man. It’s time we stopped allowing the outside to come inside. It’s time we stopped tolerating miserable attitudes, especially among God’s people.

Is there any reason you are not being renewed day by day? Well, things are tough right now. So. Well, I haven’t been feeling the greatest. So. Well, the bills are stacking up. So. Well, there’s Trump. So. Well, my dog has to go to the vet. So. Well, it’s raining today. So. Well, it’s November already and the holidays are coming. So. You have not explained why you are miserable on the inside and why you spread your dark mood to everyone around you. It’s your choice. Why have you chosen that?

Day by day, includes today. Will you renew your inner man? I hope so. It will change your day and it might even spread some sunshine to those around you.

Roger

Jump Start # 1718

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”

  Whispers of eternity—that’s our thoughts this week. God is constantly reminding us of our spiritual side and of our existence beyond death. Our passage today presents one of the clearest images of those thoughts. Here Paul talks about the “outer man” and the “inner man.” As this thought continues into the next chapter, the illustration switches to a house. Paul refers to the “outer man” as an earthly tent. It is in this series of illustrations that he shows the true feelings of a Christian concerning the eternal. Paul says,

• While we are in this tent, our bodies, we groan because we are burdened
• We long to be with God
• God made us for this purpose
• We prefer to be out of this body and to be with God

These thoughts show the emphasis and the superiority of the spiritual over the physical. We have a physical side to us, that’s obvious, but it’s the soul, the eternal side, which is more important. Our verse today helps us to see this.

The outer man, that’s the body, is decaying. Just the opposite of the evolutionary theory, we do not progress to a greater state, but we gradually fall apart. Just look in the mirror. When you are in your 20’s and 30’s, you don’t recognize this. But by the mid 40’s on, your begin to see the miles on your life. You tire more easily than you once did. Moving things around hurts your back, when it never did before. You need glasses. Your hair begins to show the signs of age. Give it time, it only gets worse. Your memory starts fading. You walk with a cane. Medicines and doctor visits become a part of your regular routine. You are not getting better, you are decaying. The body is wearing out.

However, the condition of the body is not a reflection of the soul or the “inner man.” Paul tells us that the two men are traveling opposite directions. One is decaying and the other is getting stronger day by day. What happens to the body is not an indication of what happens to the soul.

Also, interesting in this illustration, there is little we can do to stop the outer man from decaying. Certainly, we can eat better and exercise but that won’t stop the aging process. We will still “decay.” The outer man is out of our control. However, the inner man, which is far more important, is something that we can affect and change. The soul, that inner man, can be strengthened by the choices we make. We are in control of what happens to our soul. We can’t do much to the outer man, but the inner man is within our power to improve.

So, as we age, what can we do to “renew” that inner man, or our soul? Daily choices, regular habits, controlling what influences you all have an impact on our soul. Some get older but they don’t get any better. In fact, as some get older, they get worse. They become grumpy and complaining. They feel that their age gives them the right to rain on everyone’s parade. Instead of being young and dumb, some have simply gotten old and dumb, especially spiritually. They have not fed their soul. They have not renewed the inner man. They have miles on their body and their soul has not learned anything. Stress, fear and worry continue to affect them. They do not see things spiritually. They have remained shallow and unchanged by the blessings and grace of God. They have stunted their soul by the poor choices in their life.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians, state, “Therefore we do not lose heart…” We don’t become discouraged. We are not down and out about this. Yes, we are falling apart physically, but our souls are better and stronger than ever before. That’s how Paul saw things. This happens by making the effort and the choice to take care of that soul.

Worshipping God on a daily basis is part of this.

Praying all the time will remind you of this.

Putting your nose into the Bible and becoming transformed by what you learn will get you there.

Giving more diligence to the internal than the external will help you renew that inner man.

It’s a matter of choice. You can be old and falling apart on the outside, but strong and powerful on the inside. Your mind, your soul, your determination and will can be so locked onto God that you have got your sights set on that Heavenly home. Nothing will move you from that destination. As you age, you more and more think about that Heavenly home. You want to be in Heaven. You don’t let the physical side of things sway your purpose. Elections, weather, disappointments, hurts and pains, they don’t “weaken” the inner man. Your sights are set on Heaven.

I watched the Cubs win the World Series last night. No one is alive today that remembers the last time they won. It was 108 years ago. The smiles, the jumping up and down, the hugs, the happiness of what they achieved not just in that final game, but in the series, the playoffs, and the entire season—it was a long journey but they made it. I just wonder if that’s a glimpse of the joys we will feel when we make it to Heaven. Smiles. Hugs. Jumping up and down. For the Cubs, the injuries didn’t matter at that point. The errors made throughout the season didn’t matter at that point. They made it and they made it because of choices and the help of each other. What pains, sacrifices, hardships we have endured, won’t matter once we are there. It’s similar to flying. I have a flight coming up this weekend. Some are smooth. Some are bumpy. I’ve had flights delayed and flights canceled. I have been rerouted to different places because of weather or possible mechanical trouble. I’ve had bags damaged and some bags went on when I got off. A lot of adventures and stories. But once I’m on the ground, where I am supposed to be, it doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter. I made it. I saw a young guy who had his face in the throw up bag the entire flight. No one sat by him. We landed. He got off. He was ok.

Your journey may be difficult. You may not get much support at home. Maybe the congregation you are a part of isn’t doing well right now. Maybe life has not turned out the way you expected. Maybe there has been a death. Maybe a divorce. Maybe some heartache. You can hang your hat on those things and use them to be miserable the rest of your life, or you can move on and continue to make the right choices and renew that soul of yours. The words of our passage today state that the inner man was being renewed day by day. Every day. Every day getting stronger. Every day hanging in there with the Lord.

These are all choices we must make. You decide whether your inner man is going to be renewed or old, stale and stuck. You decide whether you will get stronger each day spiritually or if you will ignore your spiritual side. Your choice. You can’t stop what is going to happen to the outside of you. But the inside is all up to you. Make it the way that pleases God.

Day by day—it’s a process. There is not one sermon, one verse, one thing that you need to do. It’s steps. Each step takes you closer to the Lord. Day by day…

Today is one of those “day by days.”

Roger

Jump Start # 242

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”

  Losing heart is the New Testament’s way of expressing discouragement. When a person’s heart is not into it, they simply go through the motions. Their effort is less than stellar. Some one whose heart is not in his work will find the day seems terribly long. His mind wanders and his boss fumes. When the heart has gone out of the marriage, a couple becomes room mates who simply share expenses and closet space, and very little else. I’ve seen folks whose heart were not into worshipping. They look so pitiful, it’s almost funny. They fidget, watch the clock, look bored and do everything but worship. Losing heart is a sad place to be. It’s hard to get it back sometimes.

  Paul uses this expression, “lose heart” twice in this chapter (v. 1, 16). In our verse, Paul is saying, even though we are aging and falling apart, we do not lose heart. We are not discouraged. The inner man, the soul of a person, is getting richer and better every day. Here is a couple of contrasts: inside man and outside man; decaying and being renewed.

  Life can be discouraging, especially as you get older. As a person ages, he finds he can’t do what he once did. If he tries, he’s in bed for the next three days, hurting in his back, knees and ego. After so many miles the body needs work. Surgeries, medical tests, and pills are the regular routine for many senior citizens. And most, hate it. You also find as you age, that society is geared toward youth. The older crowd is passed and pushed aside. I know the clock is ticking for me. Churches aren’t running over each other to hire old preachers. Such is life. But it’s enough to make one depressed and discouraged. Paul says to all this, NO. We do not lose heart. The reason, the inner man, our soul, is getting renewed day by day.

  Renewed… means to make new or fresh. This is done through prayer, study of God’s word, hope and living with the Lord. Jesus is the difference here. A person doesn’t have to become an old grump, not while he is walking with Jesus. Years of prayer, experience and Bible knowledge has a way of making the spirit soar. I see that among older Christians. Younger people are running too fast through life. They are always going somewhere and never have time for anything. Their schedules are full and about all they can get are tiny bites of life here and there. Stressed and tired are lifestyles of younger people. I know, I’ve done it. Still am, even though I’ve passed through the land of being young already. Ever just notice folks coming into the church building? It is a sight to see. The older crowd is there early. They visit, catch up and have a sparkle about them. The young crowd squeezes in at the last second, coats, book bags, car seats, diaper bags, Bibles all being juggled and dropped as they hustle in. I have to sit down and catch my breath just watching them. Now I’m not thumping on anyone, just observing. Young children pull you thin. It’s hard to talk to anyone with the little ones tugging on your pant leg, interrupting every sentence you try to say. My only words are, hang in there. It’ll get better and you’ll be able to breath some day.

  Renewed in the inner man. Fresh. Inviting. Joyful. Christ-like. Not, grumpy, complaining, nor bitter. Jesus is the difference. When the outer man is decaying there is much to be worried about, complain about and lose heart about. But Paul said, “we do not” do that. It is a matter of choice. Pain is inevitable, misery is optional. You can’t control what will happen to you, but you can control how it will affect you. That is your choice. Some age gracefully, and others just get old. Some are a delight to be with, and some are a real pain. That renewed spirit is what Paul talked about in Romans 12 when he told the brethren not to be conformed to the world. Instead, they were to be renewed in the mind. Same thing here.

  Can’t teach an old dog new tricks—that’s not how Paul saw things. That’s just the way I’ve always been—Paul thinks you can be better, every day. It takes some work and some thinking and a whole lot of walking with Jesus. The outer man doesn’t last anyway, it’s the inner man that matters. Some spend too much effort trying to renew the outer man. That won’t last. And the inner man, they just let it go into decay.

  Renewal comes from working at it. Let’s do it.

Roger