Kingdom Living is without Deterioration

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can:

• never perish
• spoil or fade
• be kept in heaven for you

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Deterioration means to diminish or impair in quality, character, or value. Everything in this world is fading, spoiling, dying and is temporal. Everything in this world deteriorates.

Your inheritance does not perish, spoil or fade. Your inheritance is kept safe in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Heaven came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to redeem and bring mankind back into God’s original image and likeness. Jesus Christ delivered mankind from the fall. Followers of Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Because of the fall, you will labor by the sweat of your brow. Because of Jesus Christ, work has been redeemed from the fall. Work for the follower of Christ is redemptive. Everything you do can have a redemptive purpose bringing Glory and Honor to God. What we store up on earth will eventually perish, spoil and deteriorate. However, souls delivered from the dominion of sin and death by the blood of Jesus Christ will never die or deteriorate. Your work is to bring redemption wherever you go. Jesus redeemed you from the curse of hard work. Your work is your ministry. Housewife, husband, wife, office worker, professional are all in the redemption business.  

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Your labor is not for perishable but for imperishable. God has called you to be an agent of redemption. Your salvation brings you joy knowing that your inheritance will not fade, spoil or deteriorate.