23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24 As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:23-25
Now that autumn is here even the most hardy flowers like begonias and geraniums are fading away and dying.
So with us, in the "autumn" of our lives.
A friend of mine turns 60 in a few days time and, in the course of creating a photo card, I looked back at photos taken years ago.
Yes we are fading too! Wrinkles, double chins, spare tyres replace the flower of our youth!
Even the most disciplined face the same fate!
You can't hold back the tide of time.
How wonderful is it then to have the blessed Hope in Jesus - an eternal life that will be incorruptible with time. In fact time will be a thing of the past.
Eternity is forever!
The choices made in time - this life - determine our future.
Be sure to invest aright.
Last night we watched the documentary on Arsene Wenger. It's very name "Arsene Wenger Invincible" is derisory. The wrinkles and thick spectacles belie the title and show his fading physique.
He admits that he regrets putting all his efforts into Arsenal at the neglect of his family.
For the fleeting fame of going unbeaten in a football season and attempting to win just one more trophy, he sacrificed his nearest and dearest.
Now, in hindsight, he is trying to repair that damage.
It's a hard lesson to learn. Some mistakes are irreparable.
Invest in things eternal, like love, kindness and wisdom in the Kingdom of God. Then there will never be any regrets.
Looking back at my precious mum's life, I see how she invested in such matters.
Putting Jesus first was how she lived each day.
She loved to quote:
"Only one life which soon will pass
Only what's done for Christ will last"!
Wise words indeed!
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.
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