1Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, [that is,] through the living and abiding word of God. 24 For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
Assumed –
Obedience to the truth,
Heart sanctified by Christ’s blood,
Resulting in a sincere love for those who are like-minded,
Fervently and actively seeking to encourage one another.
The above is only possible if you have been called by God’s grace. God’s word is living, has the power to change hearts, and will continue forever. This truth is unlike our own physical bodies which will cease to exist.
Consider for a moment the comparison of flesh and grass. Grass grows, flowers, and turns to seed, then it dies and withers away. Man is born physically, grows, even flourishes, but then fades and physically dies. Man, like grass, is weak and transitory – here today and gone tomorrow. Ponder the strength you had ten or twenty years ago; perhaps at one time you were heralded for a great accomplishment or success in life or work. Even these moments of thriving fade with time. Man’s success is short-lived just like the flowering seed of grass. There is no certainty in our flesh, accomplishments, or possessions. However, there is permanency in God’s word which is all-powerful and eternal. Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary says man “is corruptible and decaying”, God is abiding. “There is no stability in anything that man does or produces … but God and His word endure forever the same”.
1 Peter 1:24-25 is a quote from the book of Isaiah where God spoke to the prophet Isaiah, instructing the church to stand on the lasting promises of God rather than men. 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.
“ …where the preaching of the Gospel is foretold, and recommended from the consideration, that everything which is merely human, and, among the rest, the noblest races of mankind, with all their glory and grandeur, their honors, riches, beauty, strength, and eloquence, as also the arts which men have invented, and the works they have executed, all decay as the flowers of the field. But the incorruptible seed, the Gospel, called by the Prophet, the word of the Divine nature, which it is the instrument of conveying to believers, will remain in them to all eternity.” Dr. Macknight.
The Word of the Lord is the Gospel. Trusting in the Gospel, understanding and accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is life everlasting. The apostle Peter quotes Isaiah because it is the same word spoken then as it was beforehand. And this same Gospel is true for us today. Without the Gospel, man is destined for destruction. With the Gospel man is able to have confidence in his redemption.
Tomorrow, our country celebrates Thanksgiving which commemorates a feast held in the early 1600’s. Consider what you are thankful for. Everything you might list is a direct blessing from the hand of God. Our families, friends, employment, shelter, clothing, food, transportation, health, the air we breathe, plants, animals, stars, the sun’s warmth, the moon’s glow, new life, long life, even difficulties and the stretching circumstances which cause us to look up at something greater than ourselves. Of all these blessings, your standing as God’s child in His eternal glory is most important. Is God at the top of your list? Are you willing to accept His almighty power and absolute perfect plan for your life? Let us live each day and each moment in gratitude for the inexpressible value of eternal hope.
Glaringly opposite of the lasting value of God’s word is man’s fleeting existence.
Job 14:1-2 "Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. "Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
King David understands this comparison, “My days are like a lengthened shadow; and I wither away like grass. But Thou, O Lord, dost abide forever; and Thy name to all generations”, Psalm 102:11-12.
Ps 103:14-17 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are [but] dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
Dust is a good description of man. What happens to dust when you blow on it? It dissipates into the air. This is man. However, we do have value, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for us so that we might live forever with Him. This is our value – God alone. God’s word is the clear representation of Himself. It is His communication to us of who He is, who we are, what He has done, and what we need to do.
Isaiah Chapter 51 was written to comfort the Israelites held captive in Babylon. In verses 12-13, God reminds them of man’s powerless state. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who is made like grass; that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?”
How does thinking rightly of man and rightly of God affect your attitude and choices?
All flesh, the body, what is external, human nature with all its physical and moral frailties, is like grass. There is a very short time in our valley when the hills surrounding us are green. It is quite beautiful to take a drive within the period when things are blooming. Consider the poppy fields we get to enjoy each year. Yet how long is the season of their blooming? Just as the green hills and fields of wildflowers shrivel and dry up, so will man’s flesh. Perhaps there will be moments of glory, but those moments quickly fade and are tossed aside, having no lasting value.
The Word of the Lord abides forever. It will continue through all time, it will endure through all circumstances, it stands on its own, it is present now and will remain. Its strength will never cease, and its intent will never change or be diminished. It is perfect, it saves, it is sure, it is wisdom, it is joy, it is holy, it is judgment, and it is protection, (Psalm 19:7-11).
The Word feeds the soul.
Psalm 119:103
Matthew 4:4
The Word is light in the darkness.
Psalm 118:105
Proverbs 6:23
The Word warns and it blesses.
Proverbs 29:18
Luke 11:28
The Word purifies
Psalm 119:9
John 15:3
“But the word of the Lord abideth for ever in undiminished force and vigour, nor can ten thousand succeeding ages prevent or abate its efficacy. Now this, which the prophet refers to in the oracle I have just been quoting, is the word which is preached to you in the gospel: show, therefore, your regard to it by such a temper and behaviour, both towards God and man, as it was intended to inculcate and produce”, Philip Doddridge N.T.
John 6:63-68, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father." As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
Good question – where else would we go, where else do we go. Either we live in the world and for ourselves or we live in Christ for Him. The first will afford moments of happiness based on circumstances, yet discouragement and failure will reign as we are tossed to and fro in the volatile waves of man’s wisdom. The latter promises joy based upon our value in Christ, His purpose for us and the certain hope of eternal life. Ephesians 4:14 says, As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
What is your response? Do you know and understand these things to be true, having accepted them in your heart?
John 20:31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
James 1:5-6 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Do you possess the certain hope of eternal life?
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Have you placed your complete trust in God’s absolute holiness?
1Kings 8:56 "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.
Psalm 111:7-8 The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness.
Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.
The Word of the Lord, the Gospel, is permanent.
Psalm 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.
This is what was preached then by the apostles; it is what we should proclaim now. If we have been born for eternity, we should now live for eternity. Christ crucified is the only means that will save a soul.
Are you counting on your own life, your works, your charitable deeds, your ‘claim to fame’, the church you attend, or your heritage or association with a religious group, to be the key to your eternal future salvation?
Eternal salvation, rendered only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is rendered by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone.
In response, the gifts and strengths God has given to each of us are not to be used for our recognition or profit. All that we are able to do is to be used by God, for His glory. Our worship is the praise we offer to God, through the life He has given, which seeks to honor His name, in obedience to His word, which will abide forever.
