imperishable worth

  

    

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Peter 1:17-19

    What do you value? Not just in the words you say or the beliefs you claim, but in the life you live? In a world of death and decay, our lives should be painting a picture of the precious living hope we possess. Instead of being swayed and lulled to sleep by the never-ending waves of the world that challenge our efforts of holiness, we are to be alert and looking for the compromising influence of ungodly perspectives. Complacency is so dangerous. Instead of being distracted by things that will perish, we need to keep Christ always in view. The less we see of Christ’s beauty, the more tempted we are to idolize things that are empty.

    We’re used to determining value by human standards. We prioritize things such as outer beauty, material profit, gratifying our feelings, and convenience. Too often, our motivations are selfish and sinful. Our human natures gravitate towards those observable standards, but that doesn’t mean we should embrace that perspective. Instead, we are to value what God values. God values things that completely contradict the sinful perspectives we’re born with. 1 Peter paints a vivid picture of this contrast. Gold and silver will pass away, but not the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19). Flowers fall, but the Word abides (1 Peter 1:23). Outer beauty decays, but inner beauty is very precious (1 Peter 3:4). Our faith is more valuable than gold which perishes (1 Peter 1:7). Suffering is temporary, but the glory promised is eternal (1 Peter 4:10). Once our eyes have been opened, we begin to treasure the things of eternity, not the things of this world. In Christ we possess eternal life and a living hope that transforms us from the inside out.

    Too quickly, we allow the world to tarnish this bright hope. Instead of being diligent to renew our minds and fight the corruption still in us, we tend to declare a truce. We fight hard for a time, but then we grow weary and become passive. Our remaining sinful perspectives are allowed to stay and make themselves at home. After all, they’re already there, so they shouldn’t be that big of a deal. That’s the wrong approach! We are never to be at peace with sin! Sin is never passive, so why do we think we can be? Through Christ’s strength, we are to root out these idols and replace them with the things that God treasures. Praise God that He renews our minds to see the world with His standards of worth and beauty. When we abide in the Word and in prayer, meditating on the glorious realities of salvation, it re-orders our hearts. Understanding more of His preciousness makes the things of this world look like the rubbish that they are.

    We are born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable. (1 Peter 1:23) Peter gives us a window into the spiritual realities that should be taking hold of us. Our surroundings should not be the forces that sway us and motivate us. No, our union with Christ is what drives us on. The things of this world will crumble. Christ, the true cornerstone, never will. 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:7-8)