NO EXPIRY DATE

Recently I bought Chocolate cookies marked ‘Half Price’. Imagine my surprise when I opened the packet to find them mouldy and musty. Ugh! As I looked at the packet I discovered they exceeded the expiry date.

Likewise if you buy any atlas, it is always out-of-date because of new boundaries, name changes and divided countries.

As well medical textbooks require continued reprints because research unfolds new discoveries with improved investigative and surgical procedures, which benefit the patient.

However, God has no expiry date. His grace and mercy extend from generation to generation and continue to children’s children. Having seen six generations, I thank God for the tremendous blessing extended to all who have believed in God with awe and reverential trust. The promise remains valid for all time, right down the family line, from our Christian ancestors who lived by faith, because of God’s grace.

The Hebrew word for grace is ‘chesed’, which expresses the favour and loving-kindness of God, totally undeserved and certainly unearned. Mercy is the gracious act of God, when Jesus Christ paid our sin price on the cross.

Although David was a man after God’s own heart, like a wandering sheep he strayed from the path of holy living. But when he repented, he also experienced the ‘chesed’ of God, His unmerited mercy and grace. How encouraging to read David’s declaration of God’s goodness from Psalm 23 ‘ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of my life.’ No limit. No expiry date.

Once on return from overseas we presented our Passports for inspection. To my surprise I realised that mine expired two days later. To be detained through strikes or cancelled flights in an overseas country would have embarrassed me.

Thankfully, our God is faithful. Although situations around us change, because God is God we are secure in Him, Who is from everlasting to everlasting. All is in His control. ‘ He is before all things and in Him all things hold together’ (Colossians 1:17)

Dr Leon Morris writes, ‘He is from the unbeginning beginning to the never-ending ending. ‘

Subscriptions expire. Council rates become due. Taxes require payment by a due date. Sales offers dwindle. Thank God that His love, mercy, grace, goodness, presence and provision continue forever – with no expiry date.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deut 31:6 Hebrews 13:5 SS