1 Peter 1:24-25
24 For [dioti] all [pas] flesh [sarx] is as [hos] grass [chortos], and [kai] all [pas] the glory [doxa] of man [anthropos] as [hos] the flower [anthos] of grass [chortos]. The
grass [chortos] withereth [xeraino], and [kai] the flower [anthos] thereof [autos] falleth
away [ekpipto]:
25 But [de] the word [rhema] of the
Lord [kurios] endureth [meno] for [eis] ever [aion]. And [de] this [touto] is [esti] the word [rhema] which [ho] by the gospel is
preached [euaggelizo] unto [eis] you [humas]. KJV-Interlinear
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. NASB
A quotation from Psa. 103 and Isa. 40.
Psa. 103:15-16
15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he
flourishes. 16 When the wind has passed
over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer. NASB
Isa. 40:6-8
6 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. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When
the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the
word of our God stands forever. NASB
Grass, chortos is a reference to animal feed. Animals of the world graze on grasses. This grass is something that grows up wild
and is not subject to mans cultivation or care.
In an open field or range, the grasses grow up wild and natural. They have but one purpose and that is to
provide feed for the animals grazing there.
A typical grassy range is filled with wild flowers. There are times when the grasses are rich and
green, and the wild flowers growing up, blossom and make for a beautiful scene.
One that no one can begin to match on
such a large scale.
But no matter how large, or how beautiful, the grasses and flowers all
fade in the fall and die out.
And that is the picture of humanity.
No matter how rich or poor, no matter how talented or not, no matter how
stationed in life or not, no matter what attribute is applied to humanity, all
of humanity, and that includes everyone, will die off.
Man can only begin life in the biological sense, and that biology all
ends in death and decay.Man has to go
through lot of rituals of sorts in order to get this process started, and man
has to go through lots of years of maintenance in order to maintain his physical
nature.And the result is always the
same death.
Only God can begin life human life in the soul, and eternal life at
the point of faith, and those are eternal in nature. And God does it with only His will.
No matter who or what you are, no matter what you do or do not do, your
life, from the source of yourself, is worthless.
The only source that gives you any value of any kind, is God. And that value comes in the form of Bible
doctrine, which is the foundation of all of your existence, which has, and
gives you, significance, meaning and purpose.
Apart from doctrine in the soul, we are nothing.
So, you can keep right on pursuing your life in the usual ways, with the
usual boasting (even if only privately within your thoughts) of your beliefs and
standards, and wait until your destiny (which is certain) comes along in the
form of your death, and then learn the truth of your stupidity.
Once you die, once your life comes to an end, and it will, then you
cannot come back to do it all over.Look
around you.How many people are there in
the world who are 120, or 150, or 200, etc., years old? None.
Since the time of Adam, perhaps trillions of people have been born into
this world, over the last many centuries.
Where are they now?
You are no different than they, and you will leave this world in the
same fashion.Your soul will leave your
body behind and you will be escorted by the angels to wherever your destination
is going to be.Unbelievers go to
Torments, and believers go before the Lord in heaven.
The first real reaction following death will be astonishment, and then
the reality of truth will sink in very fast, and then your reaction will be
embarrassment, which is not a sin, by the way.
If only you had listened and learned, and grown up in your spiritual
life through Bible doctrine which was preached to you.
Isn t that how the last verse ends?
Therefore, no excuses other than your stubborn arrogance, driven by your
sin nature, which you freely submitted yourself to, as a slave of its will.
Better to be a slave to Christ, truth, and life, rather than the
alternative.The blessings resulting
from a strong spiritual life are infinitely greater than otherwise.
But the question is posed to you, and the opportunity is given freely.
Peter is addressing people who are under suffering. He does not speak politely to them and tell
them it will be all right.He teaches doctrine
to them, and the path to a greater future.
The world will do its thing, and until Satan has had all of His whining
considered, God will not turn the pages in human history. But turn they will, sooner or later.
God never allows history to be run by thugs, and evil. So fear not.
If the time is right, then evil will have its chance. But, until the time is right, evil s every
effort, will be thwarted and delayed.
All we can do is set back, grow up spiritually, continue being
responsible, as we should in all matters, and watch as God guides the world in
a path of His choosing.