According to Genesis 1:26-27, the Lord God decided to make mankind in His own image and likeness, and Genesis 2:7 states that the Lord God formed (handcrafted) the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and he became a living being. Then, the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). God gave them some responsibilities and duties to take care of other God’s creations; and a set of rules and regulations to follow in their life, so that they can have right relationship with their Creator and have regular fellowship with Him. However, mankind failed in taking care of their responsibilities and following the rules and regulations in their lives, which means they sinned against God. God’s law commands that everyone who sin against God will die (Genesis 2:17; Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23a). Thus, human beings became subject to death, as stated in Romans 6:23 that For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Epistle of James 1:14-15 states that But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews also stated that Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). All these Bible verses point out that it is sure that all the mortals will die one day, but no one knows the time of one’s death, except God – that is the scary part in this reality. Human beings cannot change what God ordered from the beginning, but God can, because He is the giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13). God knows exactly when one is born and when one will die because the days of mortals are written in His book (Psalm 139:16). God, being our loving Father, prepared a way for mortals (that is, the entirety of humanity) to come out of such punishment and death. However, it is in our hands whether to accept it or not. For those who accept it, there is chance for them to live forever; if not, there is condemnation and death which awaits. The very first thing one needs to do in order to receive never-ending life (from the giver of life [Genesis 2:7; Job 10:12]) is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and obey His commands. If we accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our life and submit to His will, we all need to do two things without fail in our daily walk with Him: Firstly and primarily, we need to keep the covenant that God made with us; and, secondly, we need to obey God’s precepts at all times without fail as stated in Psalm 103:18.

The passage for this week’s Scripture for the Week is taken from Psalm 103:15-18. The key focus of this particular Scripture passage is ‘Life.’ The first part is talking about the life – that it is momentary – whereas the second part is talking about the life – that is never-ending (everlasting). The Psalmist is comparing the life of mortals with the grass and flowers of the field. The grass and the flower will wither away when heat and wind hits on them (Psalm 103:15-16). God’s servant Job also stated that Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure (Job 14:1-2). Prophet Isaiah wrote: All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field (Isaiah 40:6). Moses wrote that You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning. In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered (Psalm 90:5-6). Also, 1 Peter 1:24 states that For, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall. Like the grass withers and the flowers fall, the life of the mortals also will soon pass away. However, God can change the course of the life of the mortals from a momentary status to an everlasting status. The question here is how can we turn the momentary life into an everlasting life, since we are sinful (Romans 5:12) and God is Holy (Leviticus 11:44). This is possible only if we reconcile with the Holy God, because God is the only one who can bless us with everlasting life. Humanly thinking it is impossible but it is possible with God as stated in Luke 18:27 that The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. John 3:16 is the solution that God has set before us, which states that For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Thus, God prepared a way for us to have eternal life. As gratitude for all that God has done for us, we, mortals, need to love Him, fear Him, honor Him, and obey His precepts/commands. The Psalmist (king David), who experienced the love and forgiveness of God in his life, testifies that from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts (Psalm 103:17-18). God’s love for the mortals is steadfast and never-ending. In response to God’s love for us, we need to live in close relationship with God, we need to love Him faithfully, we need to honor and respect Him, fear Him, and we need to obey all His precepts/commands.