◄ What Does 1 Peter 1:18 Mean? ►

What do you value in life and what is it that I consider precious? Most people would put gold and silver pretty high up on the list, for 'money speaks' in this world, and silver and gold are commodities that are highly valued by the rich and poor alike, but they are perishable and valueless when it come to the redemption of a lost humanity.

From the fall of Adam, every man inherited an empty life, devoid of all that is good and pure, perfect and holy; a life without hope and a life without God. From the point that sin entered the world, every person that comes into the world is born dead in their trespasses and sins which means eternal separation from God. This is the empty inheritance that is the birthright of all men. No one is exempt, for all are sinners.

Although God created man in His own image and likeness and bestowed upon him everything that relates to life and wholeness, Adam's sin meant our privileges were forfeited and handed over to Satan (who holds every man that comes into the world under the evil power of sin and death and hell). But this is the empty, futile life from which we were redeemed by God. For we were bought with a price, we were purchased at a cost, we were redeemed from the empty way of life that we inherited from the fathers. Not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.

We were created by God and belonged to Him, but we sold ourselves into slavery through man's disobedience to God's commands. This rebellion against a holy God, was achieved by sinning against the One Who made us to be united together with Himself in love. We severed the bond of intimate relationship with the Lord and condemned ourselves to eternal separation from Him. But God in His grace redeemed us. God in His love bought us back by paying an enormous price for our redemption.

The price God paid to redeem us from the power of Satan and the empty way of life that we had inherited from our fathers, was the highest price ever to be paid to buy back something that belonged, by right, to the purchaser. But it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that we were redeemed, but by the precious blood of Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

As we ponder these things, let us ask ourselves again, 'What do we consider to be precious in this life?'

Loving Father, there are no words to express my gratitude and thanks for the price You paid to redeem me from the empty life I inherited as a member of the human race. Thank You that by grace through faith, I have received eternal life. How I praise Your holy name. In Jesus' name, AMEN.