Though the Outward Man Perish

 Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Word of God never pretends that the righteous will always walk in unbroken health. From Job on the ash heap to Paul with his thorn, from David on the bed of languishing to the saints James addresses, Scripture faces sickness head-on. It shows us both the outward man that perishes and the inward man that is renewed. It teaches us how to live when we can no longer help ourselves, let alone carry the load for others. These six posts draw from the whole counsel of God so that, whether we are the one lying weak or the one standing beside the bed, we may walk in faith, humility, and hope.



The dichotomy of body and spirit that frees us from despair

When sickness strikes and strength fails, the first truth we must settle is that we are not merely physical beings. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). The body may waste, the strength may leave, the ability to rise and serve may be taken away for a season — yet the inner man, regenerated by the Spirit of God, can be made stronger still.

This is the same dichotomy we saw when facing surgery: physical fear and spiritual peace can dwell in one person at the same time. Jesus told His disciples not to fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). Our earthly tent is temporary (2 Corinthians 5:1). The God who numbers the hairs of our head is not surprised by the decay of the outer man. He is at work renewing the inner man through the very trials that wear the body down.

Job sat in ashes, scraping his sores, yet he could still say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). David, on the bed of languishing, knew the Lord would strengthen him there (Psalm 41:3). The outward man was failing; the inward man was learning to lean harder on the everlasting arms.

When you cannot lift a hand to help anyone else, remember this: the Lord is not measuring your usefulness by what your body can still do. He is measuring your faith by how the inward man responds when the outward man can do nothing. Faint not. The inward man is being renewed.

DMMC 

8-14-26

Location: Dublin, IN, USA

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