My daughter has an issue with items that she believes are expired. Within days, she feels that things should be trashed. I grew up in a different era and we didn’t throw out certain foods on the expiration date. A few days past the date didn’t mean it was bad, it meant to us that the shelf life was coming to an end, so you better finish it off soon.
Expiration dates are not suggestions, but warnings of what is to come. It is a warning that what you have in your possession will change. The item is no longer fresh, consumable, or may even morph into something else if held onto longer than the date. If you don’t move the item to the freezer to maintain it for future use, it will spoil.
Our lives are similar. Some of us are holding on to things that have expired. It is easy to wish for things to go back to how they were in the past, but it’s time to let go and move on. It’s time to accept that things have changed. It’s so easy to focus on the catalyst for the change but not recognize that we are responsible for making a decision.
I’ve been reading the Book of Jeremiah, which highlights a time of chaos and political turmoil. The people turned their backs on God, living lives that placed everything including their indulgence in sin above God. God gave repeated opportunities for repentance and yet, they didn’t change. The way of life for those in Judah was coming to an end with the takeover by the Babylonian empire led by Nebuchadnezzar.
The false prophet Hananiah’s message of revolting against Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. God repeatedly told the people through Jeremiah what would happen, but they instead listened to a message that led to their doom.
In reading the book of Jeremiah, I’m struck by the parallels to our current society. Recently, I watched a documentary about Jared Fogle and the horrific crimes he and his ‘foundation director’ committed against children. We’re witnessing an onslaught of unethical behavior that seems to go unchecked, to the point where we’ve become desensitized to what’s happening around us. Consistent church scandals are almost a daily occurrence. Violence, cruelty, and outright evil are so prevalent, just as they were in Jeremiah’s time.
The Bible mentions that in the days of Noah, people were unprepared because they had become accustomed to their normal way of living (Matthew 24:37-39). When the flood came, they were caught off guard. Instead of heeding Noah’s warnings, they mocked him. Similarly, those in leadership tried to silence and even kill Jeremiah, rather than listening to his message. I wonder how many of us are tuning out individuals who speak truth because it isn’t what we want to hear?
Reading Luke 21 provides more context, as Christ shares with his disciples much of what we’re experiencing today. “He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near’” (Luke 21:29-31).
Expiration dates are warnings, but for some reason, many of us aren’t paying close attention to the signs of the times. “You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3).
This is not a time for us to shrink back and remain silent. It’s also not a time to become hateful and harsh. Start in your refrigerator and cabinets—take a personal inventory first. I see far too many people who are quick to condemn others, rather than looking inward at their own lives. Start by examining your own heart and life, discarding the idols and sins that need to be removed. Once we’ve allowed God to work in and through us, we can then help others around us.
(Dr. Froswa’ Booker Drew is founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation and president of Soulstice Consultancy. Visit: <drfroswabooker.com> or email <info@drfroswa.com>.)
