All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the Word of the Lord endures
for ever and ever, Amen.
1 Peter 1:24-25
Forever and Ever, Amen. Such a simple statement. In some ways these four words are somewhat of a cliché. A positive way to conclude a thought or comment. But, do we really grasp its meaning?
In the midst of reading 1 Peter 1:24-25 the words Forever and ever, Amen lit up like a neon sign. I couldn't get them out of my mind. So, I went on a treasure hunt into God's Word. In my search I discovered God planted this phrase in the Bible (KJV) 278 times. Almost like a stamp of approval. My curiosity heightened as my search continued.
I noticed in this verse Peter is actually quoting Isaiah 40:6-8. Still seeking answers I journeyed back to the Old Testament. To my surprise a thought emerged. Like a light illuminating its surroundings God planted an analogy or tangible way of understanding this scripture in my mind... WILDFLOWERS.
The unveiling continued as I pictured Texas wildflowers in the spring. A beautiful multi-colored panorama displaying His glory. Warmth consumed my heart as I imagined these natural springtime bouquets. Focusing on each phrase of 1 Peter 1:24-25, God revealed a deeper truth and understanding of the passage...
All flesh is as grass... Flesh = Man = Grass = the grass on the side of the road = Withers = Dries up
All the glory of man as the flower of the grass... The grass’ flower like the Indian Paint Brush, Bluebonnet, or Sunflower = Falls away = Fades = Temporary
The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the Word of the Lord endures Forever and Ever, Amen... Forever = the Word of the Lord = God’s promises in the Bible = Eternal, Everlasting, Never changing!
Oh my, don’t miss this…
When we glorify ourselves rather than God His “living water” depletes from our souls. This lack of spiritual moisture causes the fruit of our labor to droop, shrivel, and dry up like a fading flower.
But, we can’t stop here. Isaiah 40:7 drives home a deeper image for us…
The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass.The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:7,8
What happens to wildflowers, especially in Texas, during of the summer? They experience extreme heat, relentless winds, and lack of rain. As a result, the volume of flowers dwindle. Does this mean they don’t have the potential to reappear? No, in most cases their seeds fall to the ground and lay dormant until the time is right for them to spring into action.
As God’s children, He calls us to give Him the Glory for everything He does through us… feeding the homeless, working at church, teaching a women's group, leading a committee, encouraging words spoken, financially helping others, etc. The second we take glory for anything God does through us it's like the wind blowing the petals off the plant. The wildflowers can't control the wind or the weather conditions. They are a result of where they are planted. Our physical bodies wither and our acts of kindness fade away, but the Lord is Forever and Ever. Amen!
From My Heart to Yours,
Carla McDougal