Life seasoned by Jesus and salted by

the fellowship of the saints is beautiful.

 

“I love Jesus, the pure, fresh breath of Life from God.”

 

With my imagination as memory, I would say that I remember the pure, fresh breath of Jesus blowing into my nostrils the breath of life while in the garden.

 

The most precious thing I possess in this life is the breath of life given to me in Adam at the Garden. The reason why I remember so clearly is that I was there in the loins of Adam.

 

I used to consider it a shame to be a believer and be afraid of death. I saw my wife dying in my arms and decided “I will not fear death anymore.” I decided to be brave and strong for the rest of us. If you have not noticed, that is what I have been doing since our Ruthie died. Yes, I was teaching you to die with the dignity of a child of God.

 

During the last three weeks I was expecting to get better but the contrary has happened to me. I seldom sleep at night.

“I CANNOT BREATHE.” Like a fish out of water I gulp for air by the hours sitting at the edge of my chair due to the shortness of breath. I look forward to the day when death will indeed be gain for me.

 

I moan and groan at the lack of oxygen in my body. (I do not gnash my teeth like those without hope in the outside darkness.) I realize that I love Life not for the sake of life that is stretching time as much as I can on earth. NO! I love life because it is a gift of God that blew into the nostril of Adam the first day he was created. Life as we know it is the gift of God. Life has two components: one is visible which is the body made out of dust and the other is spiritual and invisible.

 

Death as we know it at the present time is the separation of the Spirit from the body. This mystery of death remains a mystery because the nature of God in the life of men. He is actively involved giving motion and maintaining the activities in the unseen world such as thought, thinking, memory, wisdom and intentions of the heart and the soul.

 

The seriousness of death can be traced all the way to Gethsemane, where our Lord Jesus was so overwhelmed to the point of death that asked his three best friends to help him in prayer. They could not endure the sorrow that was not theirs even for one hour at that time. Yet there was good old Simon of Cyrene. I love Simon.

 

Once you have a taste of Jesus, nothing else will taste the same. I do not know if by memory or Imagination, I have come to long for a full breath of pure fresh air now. Because of sickness and shortness of breath I spend most of the night gulping like fish for air.

 

I do know that the full breath of fresh air is what I need the most every day. I thank God for the life given blown into my nostrils letting me know that life is precious because it is a person and that is Jesus who said “I am the life.”

 

At conversion our hearts of stone are changed into hearts of flesh. A new nature of a new creature takes over which is Jesus in you the hope of glory. 

 

As Jesus walks with you in the streets of life you feel slapped in the face by the behavior of the dark world around you and you feel uncomfortable at the fact that all your Christian work has not made any difference in the world.

 

Salvation is a consummated fact that we have already been saved even though we are still being saved and we shall be saved but according to the Economy of God it is a consummated fact before the foundation of the world.

 

A testimony of a believer is Jesus in him as the hope of glory. In a personal testimony one does not start with the person saved but with the savior who on the road to Damascus takes the initiative and knocks you down from whatever horse you are riding to alter your life forever. The testimony of conversion is a testimony of the love and grace of God in Jesus and his cross and resurrection. Then as the scripture says by God's grace we are empowered by the Spirit to testify.

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

 

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of words but it is a matter of power.” As this verse expresses, power comes from the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, your testimony to the world is powerless and without influence as plowing in the sea.

 

The promise of this verse is clear. You shall receive power in the Holy Spirit and it is in the power of the Holy Spirit you will open your mouth to say things that many times do not count with the approval of the world but the approval of God.

 

We are not here in this world to seek the approval of men. We cannot please God and men at the same time. For those who do so will end up displeasing both. But if we choose in a childlike manner to believe in Jesus by taking him at his word, we will speak in the power of the Holy Spirit. It might sound childish at times, even simplistic and foolish. Yet, It is better to be a fool for God than wise in my own eyes and approved by the world.

 

Remember that I write these things from my Dialysis Center gulping for air with oxygen in my nose during the duration of the treatment. Oh how I look forward with all of my lungs, heart, mind, soul and strength to have the full breath of God in my nostrils once again like in the garden where I will enjoy him forever.

 

Gerry Gutierrez.

 

PS. The USFDA administration agency has categorized oxygen as a controlled substance. Though it is vital for life, the problem of using oxygen constantly is that your lungs get used to it and you cannot live to breathe but with oxygen.

 

It has taken me to be so sick gulping for air to understand how important it is to have the breath of God into my nostrils. When Jesus said, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” He bowed down his head and he gave up the spirit.”

 

The photo: I am looking at my legendary daughter Keila who loved Jesus deeply.