Pursuit Of Immortality

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12)

Humanity may not be as shallow as we deem it to be. For deep in the heart of every man lies the desire for immortality. It is only the degree of that desire that differs. The extent of immortality that is sought is what distinguishes one man from another.

It is not a rare occurrence for people to turn to facials to reduce wrinkles. Some resort to botox injections to immortalize their youthful complexion – killing some cells permanently in return for a facade of youthfulness. Cryogenic technology is researched in the hope of bringing the dead back to life, if the secret of rekindling life were ever to be discovered. Instead of pine caskets, some people spend a fortune to be “buried” in a cryogenic tube in the hope of an eventual resurrection into the old world. The human genome is mapped, also with the hope of reversing the process of death, if death could be linked with a genetic code.

Even if man cannot immortalize themselves physically, man still tries to paint eternity for themselves in ways where they can be remembered for time immemorial. Some may not have set out to do it deliberately, but some characters have set out to attain such immortality in the memory of the world in passionate deliberation. Man sets out to accomplish great feats – To be the first to climb the highest peak; the greatest war hero; the first to sail around the world; the pioneer to discover a new continent; the first person to find a cure for a disease; the man who sets world records in sports; the man who changes the course of history, either by fear, by force, or peaceful revolution – in order to immortalize his existence on this planet. What crowning glory it is, for those who are remembered for their great exploits!

Some people are curious on why I choose to afflict myself with physical pain in pursuit of excellence in sports. Why do I continually set my face towards enduring such discipline and painful displeasure for crowns that do not last?

It is not the crowns that drive me. It is the anticipation of an incredible, indescribable feeling that motivates me. This feeling comes only at the end of all the painful hardships of training, just before the race. The painful regime of breaking down and building up, tearing and healing, panting and resting, will amount to a plateau of strength at the correct time. A plateau of strength that you have never reached before. The kind of feeling you feel, just at the starting block...

It is a like feeling of temporary immortality.

In our spiritual pursuit of immortality, we are not spared from all kinds of trials and tribulations. The goal of mortal strife, which is a blessing that is far superior to any notion of earthly immortality, awaits those who have been approved by the Lord. A prize awaits those who remain in Him until the very end – “The crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”.

We thank Thee for the crown
Of glory and of life
‘Tis no poor withering wreath of earth
Man’s prize in mortal strife
‘Tis incorruptible as is the throne
The kingdom of our God
And His Incarnate Son