1 Peter 1:18
18 Forasmuch as ye know [eido] that [hoti] ye were [lutroo] not [ou] redeemed [lutroo] with corruptible things [phthartos], as silver [argurion] and [e] gold [chrusion], from [ek] your [humon] vain [mataios] conversation [anastrophe]
received by tradition from your fathers [patroparadotos]; KJV-Interlinear
18 knowing that you were not
redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of
life inherited from your forefathers, NASB
There are three
things that will never perish.Three
things in this current universe, that is, namely God, angels and mankind.
Even unbelieving man
and fallen angels will live forever, it is just that their forever will be in
the Lake of Fire, and not in heaven.
God has lived forever
and there has never been a time when He has not existed. Man was created in a living soul, and from
the time of each of our initial creation (birth), each of our lives will
continue forever. The same goes for angels, from the time of their initial
creation.
As for the rest of
the universe, whether planets, stars, dust, or your precious possessions and
talents, all will be destroyed completely and thoroughly, and then replaced
with things that will last forever.
Things perishable,
include the obvious, but they also include the not so obvious, such as your
talents, abilities, opinions, attitudes, and so forth. If you had anything that was imperishable,
then you might be tempted to boast of your own natural ability to beat God at His
own game.
But that is not to
be.Whatever you possess, whomever you
are in this world, whatever talent, IQ, ability, looks, titles, achievements,
social status, etc., etc., etc., they are all temporary and will sooner or
later be lost to you, forever.
What made you, what
saved you, what supports you, what allows you to continue your life in whatever
capacity you might be in at the moment, or ever will be in, is the work of
Christ. But that is in the next verse and we aren t quite there yet.
These last two verses
are intended to put you (all of humanity), in your place.
Have a problem with
authority?Arrogance is your stumbling
block.Have a problem with respect? Arrogance is your stumbling block. Have a problem with how God is running the
world?Arrogance in your stumbling
block.
God has a plan, which
is far more complicated than the smartest of people can figure out. Even if we knew the details of today, we could
not figure out the details of tomorrow or next year, or the next century. We have trouble enough predicting the weather
accurately.
Remember that Peter
is addressing folks that have been displaced from their home country, and are living
under harsh conditions in foreign countries.
Many have been displaced for generations, for centuries, even since the Babylonian
captivity.
And so it is with
us.As believers in Christ, our true
home is heaven.But, here we are in a
foreign land, planet earth, in this life, living under harsh conditions, our
physical and perishable bodies for one thing and the poor economy of today, for
another, just to name a couple of difficulties.
We are specs of
dust.We are human life resident in a human
soul, housed in a biological body made of dust.
Where in us is the basis
for any kind of boasting?
And so we suffer.
God has given us
tremendous blessings.God has given us
tremendous doctrines and opportunities to live through this life, despite our
handicaps.And all He asks is that we
obey His commands.Commands which are
based in truth (not lies), and designed to help and aid us through this life,
and more important, commands and mechanisms which are deigned to prepare us for
an eternal inheritance.
All this for dust!!! That is you.
Now, where is your appreciation? Where is your obedience? Where is your interest?