Wearing Out Like a Garment

August 21

(Psalm 102:23-28 NIV) “In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. {24} So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. {25} In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. {26} They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. {27} But you remain the same, and your years will never end. {28} The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”

(1 Peter 4:7 NIV) "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."

(2 Peter 3:3-12 NIV) "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. {4} They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." {5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. {6} By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. {7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. {8} But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. {9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. {11} Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives {12} as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."

The old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever.” Everything that is born eventually dies. Everything man constructs eventually crumbles. Everything new eventually ends up in a land fill somewhere. Like the garments we buy or make, everything will eventually wear out and be discarded. Everything will perish. This includes the Earth and the universe as we know it, and this includes you and me. There is only one who is eternal, only one who never changes, never ages, and never ends. He is the Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Cling to Him! He is our only hope of eternal life. Seek His way. Pursue His blessing. Put your faith in Him. Place your perishing life in His hands. Live a holy and godly life in His presence as you wait for “the end of all things”. Only then will that “end of all things” not be the end of you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day