Category Archives: Imperishable

Workers building a timber-frame house in a rural wooded landscape
Availability, Bible, Building, Hebrews, Imperishable, Perfection, Scripture

THE BUILDER OF ALL THINGS

HEBREWS 3:4

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

I have had the privilege to travel a good bit internationally over the years, and one thing I have noticed is the very different styles of buildings in every country. Let me give you one example of two different styles. In the rural villages of Uganda, most houses are built using homemade bricks made of clay. They are large bricks but not as big as cinderblocks. However, in Kenya, you will see the larger blocks made of a grayish material. Both use the available resources to build their homes. I wonder if Ugandans would like the Kenyan style or vice versa.

The point of the verse today is that God is “the builder of all things.” The word “builder” is the same word we saw in yesterday’s blog, kataskeuazó, which is more of like the architect, the planner, rather than the physical builder. The literal Greek reads much different than our translation above. It would read, “Indeed, every house is built by someone; the One however everything having built (is) God.” The phrase “having built” is an Aorist (factual event, one time) Participle (which describes God).

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

What is the writer trying to tell us in this verse? I don’t think he is telling us not to build. He says, “For every house is built by someone.” We all have building to do. In my ministry, I am always praying for the Lord to use me to build into the lives of other men to lead them to be disciple makers so they too can build into the lives of other men. We call that generational growth. So, what do I see in this verse? An Application to make and maybe even a Command to Obey.

Another thing I notice is God is just like those Ugandans or Kenyans. He uses the available resources. 1 Corinthians 3:9 says,
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” Now, let me ask you a question. If we are called “God’s building,” do you think He would use faulty materials? No way. He would only use the finest available. He has chosen to build us. We are even called “living stones” in 1 Peter 2:5. “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The next time you drive by a construction site, take a look at the materials gathered. Some builders aren’t as honest as others and will try to cut corners to save money, risking the integrity of the structure. Satan will also build things that look legit until tested. Trust the Great Architect Who builds all. I promise His building plans are perfect.

Thank You, Father, for building me into Your image which is perfect.

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Gray T-shirt and joggers laid on a bed beside tea and a book
Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Hebrews, Imperishable, Scripture

OLD CLOTHES

HEBREWS 1:11

“‘THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT,’”

Okay, I have to admit – I’ve got some old clothes. But in my defense, there is just something about a comfy pair of old sweatpants or a worn out T-shirt. My wife is always hiding my “good stuff” and buying me a new shirt or pair of shorts. I am thankful for that because if it wasn’t for her, I would probably be wearing shirts and pants from the 80’s. Hey, aren’t they back in style?

We see the quotation from Psalm 102:26 today. The verse is comparing the fallibility of the creation to the perfection of Christ. If you look back at the previous verse in Psalm 102, you will see it talks about Jesus being the One Who created the heavens and the earth. But even though He created them, they “will perish.” I love how the Psalmist says “they all will wear out like a garment. Nothing created is imperishable. Only the eternal things are.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

We see Something new about God here, don’t we? We know this truth from His Word. Jesus will always remain. In Revelation 20:11 we read, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.”  Jesus Himself says in Matthew 24:35, “‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.’”

Can I propose something here that could be seen as a Sin to avoid and an Application to make? We seem to think we will last forever. We live our lives as if there are no limits to our days. That kind of selfish living is not pleasing to God and is disobedience to His Word. We must remember that our life is a vapor. James 4:14 tells us so. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

Take comfort, my friend. Jesus is there and will always be there. He is not going anywhere. He is seated on His throne just waiting for the call from the Father to come and receive His bride. Until then we are to be living our lives for eternity, trying to take as many people as we can with us. Heaven and earth will pass away one day. Jesus will establish a new heaven and a new earth. I can’t wait to see that. How about you?

I am thankful, Lord, knowing You are the Eternal One. My eternity rests in You.

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