I dislike going to the doctor immensely, but yesterday just had to go. I have blown my rotator cuff and was experiencing excruciating pain in my shoulder whenever I tried to lift my right arm. The doctor gave me a shot of cortisone directly in the joint and told me if it didn’t alleviate the pain, I would need to see an orthopedic surgeon. I told him if that turned out to be the case, I would fight through the pain and forego seeing a surgeon for as long as I possibly could. He smiled and simply said that he hoped for the best but with my condition, if I live long enough a time will surely come when that strategy will no longer work.
Yuk!
I also have one of my hands that stays extremely cold all the time. It is in fact so cold that it hurts. He is very concerned about it and suspects it is poor circulation caused from malfunctioning arteries or veins, a blood clot, or possibly something to do with my heart. I have an appointment this morning at the hospital in radiology to try to run some tests to discover what might be causing it.
While I was at the doctor’s office, I got a physical and blood work too. I haven’t had a physical in several years and am hopeful nothing comes up in the blood work that needs further attention in that arena. The last thing I desire is to spend more time in doctor’s offices only to have them tell me that I need to obtain yet another test with another doctor somewhere else. Once you start going to these folks it seems to turn into an endless cycle like seeing a chiropractor.
I told my Bible study partner I’m falling apart. I can endure pain far more than most of the people I know and would prefer just to “man” up and muddle on through it rather than spend my time in a doctor’s office. Doctors have saved my life on more than one occasion, so I don’t want to ignore them, but I’m not going merely to alleviate a little pain. It must be something serious, or I refuse to go, even when my wife is threatening me with a further injury like a frying pan to the head.
My sons seem to get angry because I have lost a significant portion of my hearing. I can see their frustration when they say something and I say, “Huh?” I tell them that if they live long enough, they too will be in the same shape and to beware of karma. Further, I am nearly blind which is the absolute worst part of my body’s breakdown process. I’ve been praying for a miracle there, but so far anyway God has allowed it to get worse. I would estimate that it got 20% worse last year (for reasons known only to Him).
I remind myself of that song, “The old gray mare just ain’t what she used to be many long years ago”. But I’m still kicking and aside from the foregoing, the doctor told me I was in excellent shape and to keep up what I’m doing. What I’m doing is mostly eating right. getting plenty of exercise and staying active.
Our human bodies are described in 1 Corinthians 15 as perishable, dishonorable, and weak, all due to sin. Our glorified bodies will be imperishable, honorable, and powerful. Our new bodies will no longer be “natural” bodies, subject to decay and death; we will live in “victory over sin and death,” won by Christ on our behalf.
Just as our earthly bodies are perfectly suited to life on earth, our resurrected bodies will be suited for life in eternity. In Luke 24 we are told that we will have form and solidity to the touch We will likely be able to enjoy food but will not be driven to it by necessity (or fleshly desire). And like Moses and Elijah, we will be able to bathe in the glory of our Maker in the fellowship of His dear Son. The bodies we inherit will be more like what God originally intended, rather than what we now abide in. Gone will be the infirmity and weakness of our sinful flesh; rather, we will be glorified with Christ, and that glory will extend to the bodies we will inhabit.
I don’t know about other old folks, but I spend significant time thinking about my new, “glorified” body. No aches, pains, I will hear so well that I will feel the worship songs throughout my body. Heck, I might even be able to sing like an angel. I will never feel tired or get bored. There will be no doctors in heaven, hence no expensive medical bills. I imagine I will be capable of clearly seeing for miles and run an equal distance. I will feel good all the time and experience joy to my core.
Until then I expect aches and pains to increase and not decrease as I age. My old body reminds me daily of the following verse, but also inspires me and gives me peace as know I’m getting closer by the minute to my true home in the Father’s house.
Job 14:1
Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.