The Imperishable Word Of God Series

INTRO.- Many good things don't last long, do they? A good pair of shoes. A favorite pair of jeans. A favorite car or truck. Many things wear out unless we get rid of them before that time. We hate to part with some things.

And how about the human body? Whew! Man, does it ever perish or fade with the passing of time! Have you looked in the mirror lately? What do you see that wasn't there 20 to 40 years ago? Wrinkles? Gray hair or no hair? Sagging this and sagging that? Bulging this and bulging that?

ILL.- Country Singer, Dolly Parton who is now 69 years old said, "If I see something sagging, bagging, and dragging, I'm going to nip it, suck it and tuck it. Why should I look like an old barn yard dog if I don't have to? It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." If you have the money I guess you can do some things to improve your looks.

ILL.- When I was 50 years of age I could run 20 miles at 7 minutes a mile. Now I would have trouble walking 5 miles. What is that? It's called aging, a hip replacement, and just plain tired!

ILL.- An older woman took a package to the post office to mail and was told it would cost $3.95 for fast delivery or $2.30 for slower service.

"There is no hurry," she told the clerk, "just so the package is delivered in my lifetime." He glanced at her and said, "That will be $3.95, please." Some of us are fading faster than others.

ILL.- Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques - visualization, association - it made a huge difference for me."

"That’s great! What was the name of the clinic?" Fred went blank He thought and thought, but he couldn’t remember.

Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?" "You mean a rose?" "Yes, that’s it!" He turned to his wife and said, "Rose, what was the name of that clinic?" If nothing else, our minds are perishing or wasting away.

Brothers and sisters, there is only one thing in this world that will never perish or fade away and that's the Word of God!

Mark 13:31 Jesus said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Isn't it great to know that what we believe is eternal truth? It will never die or pass away. And it's not just the Word of God that will never pass away. It's something else that is extremely valuable in the eyes of God that will never pass away. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

I John 2:17 "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

PROP.- In our text, let's consider what the imperishable Word of God produces in people:

1- Purification

2- Love

3- Eternity

I. PURIFICATION

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth.

ILL.- The state of Pennsylvania once had a law that reads: “If any person shall willfully, premeditatedly and despitefully blaspheme, or speak loosely or profanely of Almighty God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or the Scriptures of Truth, such a person, on conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine, not exceeding $100, and undergo an imprisonment, not exceeding three months, or either, at the discretion of the court.” Wow!

I wish that the state of Pennsylvania still had that law as well as every other state in the U.S.! We need to understand, of course, that passing a law to keep people's speech pure will not get the job done. It takes something far greater to produce purity in a person's speech, heart and mind.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth.

ILL.- The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which one should have the present. "Who is the most obedient?" he asked. "Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?" Five small voices answered in unison. "Okay, dad, you get the toy." What does obedience have to do with the Word of God and our salvation? Quite a bit.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."