"Eternal Shelf Life"

“Eternal Shelf Life”

 

When Karen and I buy food and medicine we’ve learned to check the dates stamped on the packaging. This tells us the recommended time for the product’s safe sale before spoiling, often referred to as its shelf life. For some food items the time is short (two weeks for our most recent milk purchase), for others much longer periods (almost two years for apple juice). But according to a Harvard Medical School study updated in 2015, most medications retain their potency for up to 15 years beyond the time of “expiration”. Still, we’re probably more comfortable purchasing and using goods within the suggested time period.

One food, however, is unique in that it never spoils when stored properly: honey. It may crystalize but is restored to its edible form when the container is heated. Karen’s grandfather was a bee keeper by trade and on each label were the words, “To liquefy put in warm water.” (This was before the microwave was a common household appliance.) It’s reported that honey dating back some 5000 years was found in Georgia and was still fit for consumption (I wonder who tested it). So it has, according to a Smithsonian article, “Eternal Shelf Life”.

Our Associate Pastor in New Hampshire, Mike Conneally, observed that many ministries have a shelf life. That is, at some point they outlive their usefulness and need to be changed, replaced, or eliminated to make the best use of God-given resources.

But there’s something much better than honey that has eternal shelf life: God’s Word. The psalmist (my guess: the Old Testament scribe Ezra) wrote, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35). Further, in keeping with our theme, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, AMP) and “Eat honey…for it is good…Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul….” (Proverbs 24:13-14). Now that’s a great taste to be left in our mouths!

So the next time we drench our hot biscuits with that sweet, thick, golden, sticky liquid let’s think of the sweetness and satisfaction of God’s Word and its eternal shelf life.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan