Is your luster fading?

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

It's amazing how television sets have changed so drastically! The first rectangular box could not only make intelligible noises, but could also display moving pictures in black and white! It was fantastic! But today, the only praise such an inferior box would get would be from those who still find themselves to be a little bit nostalgic!

Even though the ancient TVs eventually did begin to display colors, the TVs of today have far surpassed even these. Not only do modern television sets broadcast a sharper picture, but thanks to the digital output, they also tend to be much bigger. And with my not-so-perfect eyesight, I find this just about perfect!

But there are still choices to be made. For example, do you buy HDTV or plasma? Both have their advantages, and both will lose their luster over time. The plasma TVs lose half their brightness after 60,000 hours. You won't notice it however, because the loss of luster is gradual. By the time you start to realize you are having a harder time watching your set, you will have no choice but to replace it with a brand new one!

The plasma TV makes a good illustration of our lives. When we were young we dreamed about the future, and we made promises that seemed so easy to fulfill. As life goes by however, we begin to realize that many of these dreams will never materialize and most of these promises are never kept. Our anticipation of the future gradually changes-to indifference for many, and to melancholy for others.

Oh, we continue to search for the source of eventual happiness, but we continually come up short. But it doesn't have to be. If we will just take the time to open the instruction manual our Maker has given us.

We lose our luster bit by bit because unworthy pursuits.  

But don't despair. There is still hope! Unlike the brand new plasma TV you'll have to buy, however, this hope is free! It's a hope that will not only revitalize you from the inside out, but will also transform you into a satisfied, fulfilled individual! That hope can only be found in the Christ. 

Dear Lord, we thank You for the true hope that only comes from You.  Help us stay in the Bible so we know the direction that You want for us to go.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.