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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.
