Perish, spoil, fade. We meet up with these three terminal sounding words each day here in the land of the living. More so lately with these uncertain times.
However, truthfully everything has an expiration date.
I love fresh cut flowers on my dining room table. They put a smile on my face. Unfortunately, after a week or less they start to droop, fall apart and then poof! Gone. Every time I clean out my fridge I’m reminded that cheese doesn’t keep either. It spoils. Nasty! Also, have you ever noticed that white shirts and white pants don’t stay white? They fade after being washed a few times. Even with bleach they never have quite the same brilliance.
Perish, spoil, fade.
In 1 Peter 1:3-4 we see a hopeful word picture Peter paints for us about our future as believers.
It says,
“Praise be to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”
Did you read that? NEVER perish, spoil or fade.
This good news says we have an inheritance tucked away for us in heaven and it will last for all eternity. Even better, according to Ephesians 1:13b, God has also left a deposit (the Holy Spirit) with us to assure us it’s not going anywhere.
Peter wrote these words of encouragement to the new believers because they were encountering many trials and sufferings. With everything in their world being so uncertain (like our world feels right now), he wanted them to know what they looked forward to was certain and lasting.
These same Scriptures apply to us today.
Yes, these are uncertain, even scary times we are living in at present. But, looking forward to the what next God has secured for us keeps us looking at this life here with a proper perspective. Marinating on these Scriptures will help us persevere through difficult seasons, knowing that we, though terminal here on earth, will be eternal beings in heaven.
Just as flowers, food, and clothing will perish, spoil, and fade, our trials, sufferings and these uncertain times will too. And in the mean time we can look forward to what God has promised us.
Christy is an award winning writer, national speaker, wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandma! She is passionate about helping women devote a closer relationship with God by seeing Him at work in their lives. When Christy isn’t with family, speaking or writing, you can find her on the tennis court chasing a fuzzy yellow ball. You can connect with Christy on her blog, Joying in the Journey, Facebook, and Twitter.
Leave a Reply