Seven Things That Don't Fade Away Series

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?