OUR DAILY BREAD Tuesday, December 27, 1994 --------------- Read: John 11:14-27 The Oldest Living Things He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 Hikers in California's Sierra Mountains are surprised to encounter 10- foot-high fences with barbed wire stretched around the top. What do they see inside the fence-surrounded enclosures? Some vital communication equipment like a radio tower? No, they see only a few gnarled trees, maybe just a twisted stump with a few needles. A sign reads: Do Not Enter. Bristlecone Pine Protected Zone. Please Protect These Trees. They are the Oldest Living Things on Earth. Pamphlets explain that these bristlecone pines were flourishing when Jesus walked on earth, and that the oldest were seedlings at the time of the Exodus from Egypt. Eventually, though, regardless of how carefully they are protected, those trees will die. They are not destined to live forever. But Christians have the certainty of everlasting life. To be sure, our bodies will die. Yet by God's grace and power, our souls will never perish. Our bodies will be raised up and, as Paul said, be changed from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:53). We are awed by the longevity of the bristlecone pines. How much more awesome is eternal life through Christ. We who believe in Him will live forever! -- Vernon C. Grounds We cry, "O God, how can it be? How long is vast eternity?" The answer rings from shore to shore, "No end, eternal, evermore." - Anon The Bible in One Year: Revelation 7-9 Thought for the Day: Want to live forever? Let Jesus live in you now. ----------------------------------------------------------- Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. Written permission must be obtained from RBC for any further posting or distribution. RBC provides a variety of Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db941227.txt .