Expiry Date

Expiry Date

The commercial consumer laws require every food item

sold in the market to be marked with the date it was made 

and the date of its expiry.

If the product is something that does not perish quickly,

it is marked with a 'Best Before' date instead of  an 'Expiry Date'.

 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying,

 "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,

 for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 

Genesis 2:16-17 

The Lord God did not want man to live forever in the sinful fallen situation.

Therefore GOD gives man a lifetime of opportunity to be restored to Himself.

GOD planned for man's sinful life on earth to end in  death

so that he can have a new start in heaven!

 And the Lord said,

 "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh;

 yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:3

Before the flood, people lived for hundreds of years.

After the flood, man's lifespan was set at 120 years.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,

 in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise,

 and the elements will melt with fervent heat;

 both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,

 what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 

2 Peter 3:10-11 

Just like any product in the consumer market,

 soon after an individual is born into this world

 that person's date of birth is noted.

Everyone knows that person would expire within 120 years.

No one knows the date of that individual's death

except his/her Creator or 'Manufacturer'!

"But of that day and hour no one knows,

not even the angels of heaven, 

but My Father only.

 But as the days of Noah were,

 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

Matthew 24:36-37 

It is following the death of an individual,

in the front page of the funeral hymn sheet,

would you find both dates:-

Born: -------

Died (or entered glory) :-------

Imagine a bottle of jam.

The expiry date marked on the bottle is not for the bottle.

It is for the precious jam that is in the bottle.

It is the jam that spoils.

 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Romans 8:6 

Conversely, the soul and spirit contained in our physical body

are eternal.

It is the body that dies and decays.

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood,

 He Himself likewise shared in the same, 

that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 

  and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

Hebrews 2:14-15 

Since we do not know when we will have to leave our physical body,

we need to watch and give heed to the condition of our soul.

If our soul is in submission to the spirit 

that is in union with the Holy Spirit,

we will not fear death.

 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption,

 and this mortal has put on immortality,

 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

 "Death is swallowed up in victory."

 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 

Death will liberate the soul and spirit 

from being restricted in the physical body!

All of us are on the shelf Today.

Make today the day of your salvation 

by calling on the name of the LORD JESUS

and seal your eternal destination.

If you are saved, 

make your life count for GOD'S Kingdom Today.

Beware, brethren,

 lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 

  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," 

lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

  For we have become partakers of Christ

 if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

  while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

Hebrews 3:12-15 

You may never see tomorrow

as tomorrow might be your date of expiry!

Watch therefore, 

for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-

-in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-

- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

  And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" 

Mark 13:35-37