By: Larry Young
Pretty much all food products have an expiration date printed on their packaging. But what about you and me? Like it or not, every one of us also has an “expiration date”, or a “Best if used by….” date. One of our concerned members recently looked out across our congregation and noted that there are a significant number of folks approaching their expiration dates. Even Moses had a few words to say about this: “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalms 90: 10)
At this writing, I’m 76 years old; so, shouldn’t I expect to keel over any minute now? The reality is that life isn’t that simple, predictable, or even fair. We can love others intensely, but then there’s an accident or a disease process, and they are gone, but not from the hearts of the living. More importantly, they are never gone from God’s heart either.
The question I often quietly ask myself: In the time that is left, how can God and Jesus use me to bring them glory? I used to think I had all the right answers to that question… but Paul brought the real answers into focus: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Cor 13: 12- 13)
So when your expiration date arrives, will love be the overwhelming reality associated with you and your memory? We can’t take any of our physical “stuff” with us, not even one little item. However, God will remember and continue to act upon your earnest prayers of faith after you are no longer here to speak. Your acts of love shown to others will also continue to be a blessing after you are no longer here to reach out. Lastly, God will preserve your character, your memories, your personality, and even your identity in the resurrection. We can know that because when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John recognized them! (Matthew 17: 1-8)
This is a good news story. It’s the gospel for those being saved every day. This planet and all its “stuff” is being destroyed by the devil, but we have something that the devil will never have: life eternal with our savior Jesus and God the Father, and a spectacular reunion with everyone who ever accepted His free gift of salvation… and even for those who had a relationship with the true God, not realizing that it was Jesus they were having that relationship with. No more expiration dates, not even for all of eternity.