No Expiration Date

When was the last time you checked the expiration date on something?  I think we were looking for some yesterday!!  A common phrase we hear often is, “Is it fresh?” or “How fresh is it?” In San Diego there is a local fish company that makes deliveries and on the side of their truck they have a slogan that says, “last night our fish slept in the ocean.”  How fresh is that!!

An expiration date is a date that is imprinted on packaged goods generally to indicate either the date the product should be sold by or when it should be consumed.  Sometimes we see the date and disregard it for whatever reasons but most of the time we pay attention to the expiration date, especially food.  The tendency towards spoilage and/or the risk of illness are at least two of the factors which probably prompted the origination of an expiration date.

When we open our spiritual pantry or refrigerator the are NO expiration dates on anything!!  All the items have been purchased for us free of charge by God, expressed through the loving obedience and act of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  That price that was paid is good for eternity!!

Now we can eat and drink freely without concern, doubt, or fear because everything has been stamped with GOD’S APPROVAL STAMP! It says, “ETERNALLY SAVED AND SEALED.”  And so, we have found ourselves in the right place at the right time, with a feast set before us and we have already been given a seat at the table.

Eternally saved

Ephesians 2:4-10 King James Version

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Sealed

Ephesians 1:13-14 King James Version

¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

But now what?  We are made whole (eternally saved) and we have been sealed with the holy spirit so that we can now experience the goodness of God. How? By recognizing new opportunities to walk a new way, a fresh way, and one that doesn’t rely on our strength. (Which expired the day we got born again 🙂 Hallelujah!!

As part of the “new” spiritual package we received, we have nine manifestations currently that can be used to help, to heal, to bring “heaven to earth” until Jesus returns to gather the church.

These nine evidences or manifestations of the spirit, as many of you are aware, are listed in I Corinthians 12 and they don’t expire. They only cease to exist or be necessary when the Lord returns.  But until then, we have:

WORD OF WISDOM, WORD OF KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, GIFTS OF HEALING, WORKING OF MIRACLES, PROPHECY, DISCERNING OF SPIRITS, VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.

These nine manifestations of the gift, the holy spirit, are given to each and every believer at the time they are born again.  Many of us have become very adept at some and maybe not so much at others. So, as we continue in our spiritual journey, we recognize there is so much to learn and grow in. Remember we have “GOD’S STAMP OF APPROVAL.”

I urge you to quest into not only a greater knowledge of these nine but also in their application.  These are spiritual realities and tools we can utilize until the Lord returns to help and love others with God’s guidance. Isn’t it great that it is not on us to figure everything out.  God can keep it fresh for us!! His life stamp never expires. We have HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL.  We are sons and daughters of God, and we are His chosen gems!

Chosen Gems

We are all members in the Body of Christ-

Sons of God by birthright

We are chosen gems, polished by God and His Word,

We are beautiful in God’s sight.