Change and Decay - 1st April 2008

“ Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life” John 6: 27

The average life cycle of a modern domestic appliance is 7 years. And that is only if we haven’t tired of it before then and upgraded to a newer model. It is shocking how quickly we throw away expensive items simply because they have a small fault or because we have tired of them. Many years ago even the most mangled of cars would be repaired after a crash but now most cars are “written off” simply because they have a few damaged panels. Mobile phones are “upgraded” when one key fails to function. We live in a culture where few things are built to last.

In some respects that underlines the message of the bible. This current age is indeed passing away, so when Jesus challenges us not to work for “food that spoils” he is reminding us to invest in things that will last. Working to gain food that endures suggests that we should be working to feed our eternal life and not just to feed our earthly bodies.

1 Corinthians 13:13 reminds us that the things that endure are faith, hope and love. If we strive to develop these characteristics in our lives and to share with others what we have received ourselves we can be certain that we have a future that is secure rather than one that can fall apart at any time.

Jesus, help me to live my life in the light of the eternity that I shall spend with you. Feed me for eternity, not just for today. Amen.