SEVEN THINGS THAT DON’T FADE AWAY
3rd part of “Grasping a full life” message series
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the INCORRUPTIBLE GOD into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Romans 1:20-23 (NKJV)
Once there was this man who was the "picture perfect Christian".
Tithes, attendance, participation in activities you name it, he
was it!
One day as he was praying, he asked the Lord, "Lord I wonder if I
have been an obedient enough child that I might ask one favor when
I die?"
Well the Lord thought about it and said, "You know I am pretty
proud of you, I think we can do that!"
So the guy lives a long and fruitful life and then finally dies.
As he approaches the Pearly Gates Saint Peter says, "Hello, we are
glad to see you but the bag you are carrying will have to stay
outside".
The man replies to Saint Peter, "Thanks, brother, but I have an
agreement with the Lord".
Peter calls up the throne room, comes back and says, "OK, but I’ll
have to look inside".
When he does he sees a bag full of the finest gold you can get on
earth.
Saint Peter then replies, "OK you can go through but I don’t know
what you’re gonna do with bag full of pavement!"
Isn’t that the truth? Are we not all looking for the gold? But will our gold turn out to be pavement?
See Today’s situation…
Superbowl Sunday … millions are spent on ads to tell u your life is unfulfilled, so buy their product that’ll make u feel better. More US soldiers died… 522 Americans dead and counting because some people in Iraq think that life will be golden if the US is out of the picture. Bird flu, SARS, raises the spectre of death, many think if we can get rid of disease, life will be golden!
We messed up our world… We want to get a full life, life that glitters like gold. Perhaps that explains the popularity of TV shows American Idol, survivor, who wants to be a millionaire? But we live in a world that will fade away… no one lives forever, we get old and death and decay sets in… what is now, will not forever stay the way it is… Music change, computers change, styles, bodies, soon VCRs will be a dinosaur, with the rise of the record-able DVD.
Are there things that will not perish, that will endure, in other words, incorruptible, things that stand the test of time. Have u considered what exactly are things that you can depend on, put your hopes into, you know, a sure bet when all else fails?
The Bible uses one word INCORRUPTIBLE – indestructible, unchanging, constant, undying, IMPERISHABLE…
This word “Incorruptible” apparently according to one Bible commentator appears exactly seven times in the Bible and it applies to…
1. GOD – Rom.1:23
This text speaks to our day, does it not? Foolishness of idol worship – changing the glory incorruptible God into an image that can be formed by our hands that will decay and die.
Question of worship – is it worship of God or our images of what we think God should be?
2. RULER KING –
7 Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 1 Tim 1:17 (NLT)
The word eternal is the same Greek word for that’s translated as incorruptible. Rulership of God in all creation will never fade away.
Kingdom of God is within reach.
20Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk.17:20-21, NKJV)
3. WORD OF GOD – 22Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 1 Peter 2:22-23 (NKJV)
Glad you are here what you hear will not fade away, our memories may but God’ word will not. It will continue! Are we treasuring His word or do we treasure other stuff?
4. OUR REWARD FROM GOD - 24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an IMPERISHABLE CROWN. 26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 (NKJV)
Labor is not in vain, the sleepless nights, the burden you carry, the service you render and no fruit is it seems is seen, the prayers you prayed… it’ll be rewarded.
What are we laboring for?
5. OUR TRANSFORMED INNER-BEING: 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3,4 (NKJV)
The deepest part of who we are that is conformed to God, that will never fade away. Our inner being will be preserved. Are we investing in developing our inner being, spiritual lives?
6. OUR HEAVENBOUND DESTINY: 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8whom having not seen you love. 1 Peter 1:3-8 (NKJV)
Puritan pastor, Thomas Watson remarked: “The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two and be gone; what madness is it so to set our heart upon our inn, as to forget home.” Isn’t Watson right on the money?
7. OUR RESURRECTION BODIES: 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 1 Cor.15:42 (NKJV)
42 It is the same way for the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die. 43 Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power. (NLT)
Face up to reality that our bodies will never be young again, it is subject to disease, decay, sickness, time…
But we can do something about it… our bodies can be changed when we place our hope in God, who can raise the dead, and bring life instead of decay and death.
C. WHAT CAN WE DO?
Tired out by the constant bombardment of death and decay? The Bible speaks of things that will last longer than the 70 or 80 odd years we have here on the earth. Have our thoughts become futile placing our hopes and our dreams on things that fade away? Or will we be chasing after things that will never fade away? Are we wise enuff to be enlightened by what will transcend time and space and decay and place our hopes on the incorruptible God?
Perhaps some here are tired out, discouraged by the ever-changing circumstances and battered by things of the world that do fade away… look up and let your faith stretch now, exercise it by applying the truth of the seven things that will never fade away!
To grasp a full life requires us to change our basic beliefs that we can make life work apart from God. We can’t make it. therefore let us…
1.Place our worship in God alone
24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.
25 See to it that you obey God, the one who is speaking to you. …the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
28 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. Heb.12:24-29 (NLT)
2.Pursue God’s Kingdom – His kingdom lasts.
3.Plan a daily dose of God’s Word – the Word of God goes on forever
4.Participate in sacrificial service – your labor in Christ will not be in vain.
5.Peacefully submit – learn to have a gentle and quite spirit.
6.Prepare to go “home” – don’t be mad putting your hopes in an inn rather than “home”
7.Party on people of God
Old story of a Chinese man who lived on the border of China and Mongolia. Let’s call him Ah Kow. Ah Kow lived in the days of conflict between the Chinese and the Mongols.
Ah kow an had a beautiful horse, a mare, who one day leaped over the fence, raced down the road, crossed the border, and was captured by the Mongolians. His friends came to comfort him, “that’s bad news” they said sadly.
“What makes you think that is bad news?” asked the Chinese man. “Maybe it’s good news.”
A few days later the mare came bolting back into his corral, bringing with it a massive snow-white stallion. His friends crowded around. “That good news!” they cried!
“What makes you think that it is good news?” Ah Kow asked “May be that’s bad
news”. Later that week, his son was riding the stallion, trying to break it. He was thrown off and broke his leg. The friends came. “That’s bad news,” they cried.
“What makes you think that it is bad news?” asked Ah Kow. “Maybe it’s good news.” The next week, war broke out with Mongolia, and a Chinese general came through town drafting all the young men. He took them all and they all later killed, except for the young man who couldn’t go because his leg was broken.
Ah Kow said to his friends, “You see, the things you thought were bad turned out good; and the things you thought were good turned out bad.” And thus, we face life. We can’t always know if the news is really bad or good. We must trust the Lord to work all things together for our benefit.
God is sovereign control of all events, every detail of our lives are under his scrutiny. What may be good news to us may turn out bad, the bad turn out good. Do we yield to His rulership or do we demand that He makes life heaven now? Gold is just pavement on heaven, but if we have God, His kingdom and His word living in us, His rewards, these are the things that will endure.
100 years from now no one will care if you spill coffee this morning into some else’ lap, or if you have mash potatoes in your face, or a bad hair day, no one will care. But if you have right perspective, a long range one based on the seven things that never fade away, life would be a little lighter, and bearable in light of the eternal weight of glory, joy that awaits us. Let’s not be fools and exchange what’s incorruptible for the corruptible. Rejoice in the Lord who makes it clear to us through Christ we will receive His kingdom. In the end when all is said and done, what is bad now will turn out good! Let’s be thankful even if things are not going right, God knows. Look up! PRAY!
