“for you have been born again not of seed which is
perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of
God. For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES
FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23–25,
NASB95)
Oh, how quickly things change. This past week has been an
interesting time in our country as we experienced a peaceful transition of
power on a national stage while some of our politicians refused to participate.
As the new President started his work, things which the previous President signed
into place by executive order were changed by new order, and now we are
awaiting the approval of new Cabinet members so that our Executive branch of government
can once again go about its own work.
And, away from the Capital buildings and the workings of the
President and Congress, there has been large unrest in the streets ranging from
outright anarchy to large marches. All of this has garnered media attention where
disagreement with the people’s elected choice for a new direction has been
voiced. It is yet to be seen how much coverage another march going on today
will receive as the annual March for Life is underway. This march is not
violent or harsh in its words or actions, but is one that continues from year
to year pleading for our country to return to a culture of life. What a stark
contrast it has been this week as one march celebrated death through abortion
and the other life through protecting that of countless preborn children. Life
and death are on the stage before us this week, and on both sides are people
who are strongly convicted.
The ways of man are always temporary and subject to change
and perishing. This is true in our societal structures and values just as it is
true in very physical lives. Just as one day we might be able to take a long
hike the next we might suffer a fall and be unable to walk, so it is that
peoples change in what they hold dear. The reality is that everything we see
has a life to it, and then it perishes. This is the way of fallen man in a
fallen world. It is all temporary.
In these verses, Peter quotes the prophet Isaiah from whom
we read, “A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The
grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass
withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah
40:6–8, NASB95) In the next few verses Isaiah would tell the people to go up on
the mountain and proclaim their great God. He is the One who does not change
and He is the One who has power to establish forever. In verses 28-31 we
continue to read, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God,
the Lord, the Creator of the ends
of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet
those who wait for the Lord will
gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and
not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:28–31, NASB95)
Sure, we live in bodies that fail, but living in us is our
God Who never fails. He is our strength, and it is Him who enables us to serve
Him and love others fervently or earnestly (1 Peter 1:22). We may be born of
human seed, and we all know that short of Christ coming first these bodies will
fail and perish. But, for those of us who have trusted Christ for their
salvation we have the certain assurance that all that we are is not all that we
see. We have been made spiritually alive in Christ, and even now we are enlivened
by His Spirit.
This truth is incredibly important not only for us to remember,
but to rest in as things around us seem, at times, to be spinning out of
control. God never changes and His ways are firmly established. He does not
grow weary and His Spirit strengthens us for difficult days. All Christians are
made alive in Christ, and our eternity is settled once and for all. There is
nothing in this life that can affect this.
But until the time that He brings each of us into His
presence, He has called us to live as lights in the presence of others. We have
the Light of life in us. We have the truth of His Word, and it is His
unchanging truth that is to direct our steps and to come from our mouths. “Then
Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows
Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”” (John
8:12, NASB95)
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