When we value simple things, hope and encouragement permeate our lives.
I love orange marmalade, especially on a crispy English muffin at breakfast. My wife, Candace, not so much. Until last year.
I picked the oranges from my backyard tree, looked up how to process and jar orange marmalade, and I was off to the races. I knew Candace enjoys fresh pineapple, so I determined to toss some in my orange marmalade mixture.
It worked. She loved it. I’ve tried cranberry-orange marmalade, and she likes that as well. Now, she even likes my plain orange marmalade. Success. (Except she still won’t eat the stuff in the little restaurant packs.)
Once you have the right equipment, apply a little work, and you’ll be on your way to marmalade heaven. It’s fun to listen for the pop-pop of the lids as the jars cool and seal.
The humble, sweet orange is transformed into something different. It seems supernatural to me.
I’m reminded of Jesus after His resurrection. He had a new, eternal body. I’m not trying to equate Jesus’ resurrection to marmalade. He made the oranges. He also made us. (John 1:3) He promises us a body like His at the resurrection.
He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, and said, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39 (NASB)
The Lord spoke the heavens, earth, moon, and all kinds of life into being, except one. For humans, He formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed life into us. (Gen. 2:7) This is how special we are to Him. He desperately desires a relationship with us.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.” Psalms 103:11 (NASB)
This same God Who spoke life into existence, in the fullness of time, can change our bodies into a form meant for heaven, bodies without sickness, pain, or aging. No more tears.
Paul told the Philippians, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” Phil. 3:20-21 (NASB)
Paul also wrote to the Corinthians, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” I Cor. 15: 51-52 (NASB)
God is able to transform us more easily than we can transform a few oranges into marmalade. As King David said, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Psalms 139:6 (NIV)
You know someone right now who is suffering, perhaps with a terminal illness. For believers, this life is not the final chapter.
God has a plan for you if you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior, and if you have not, today is a good day to do it.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NASB)
I recently heard a pastor tell a story about a woman standing on a third-story window ledge of a burning apartment building. Below, firefighters waited with a net to catch her; they had a plan to save her. It was her only way to safety, so she jumped. Whether she had a lot or a little faith in the net, she jumped. 
God provided one way to safety, Jesus Christ.
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 (NIV)
For all of us, the building is burning. So jump. Trust Him. He’ll catch you.