April 19, 2026

1 Peter 1:17-25

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Of the readings given to us today, I was struck by our second reading from 1 Peter 1: 24 and 25 the author Peter, one of Jesus apostles quotes Isaiah. These words bring to mind a phrase to me, “built to last,” not the Ford commercial. This quote forces us to consider what in this world is “built to last?” I think it’s hard to find things that are “built to last” in this world. As we hear about things that ultimately don’t last, I mean, everything that we use and consume has an expiration date. Think technology, it is progressing and we are dealing with new releases all the time. Computers and tv’s quickly become obsolete, cars phase out too and the new model is released. Like food, like technology, even our country which has been established 250 years ago, and we see what is happening it sure seems like this nation is not “built to last” another 250 years. There has to be an ending to the good times that every powerful nation has experienced. It’s a sad reality to consider.

We see everything that is going on fits these words from St. Peter. All flesh is like (my) grass or (my) flowers and everything created is just as temporary. Even in this in between season of winter and spring this illustration couldn’t be any clearer. With those warm summer- like days and those colder winter- like days are coming up again, some plants have very little chance to last. Those little plants and flowers are stunted by lingering cold. Like the world around us, it doesn’t take us long to face the momentary nature of our own flesh. When little ones skin their little knees for the first time, when teens get into car accidents that alter their future plans, when routine tests uncover unexpected complications, when old age can no longer be ignored, when the stock market dives, when disasters hit our homes, when jobs are terminated, when spouses set an expiration date on their marriage, when individuals terminate their God given identities for self- made ones, when truth is relegated to mere opinions, yes we know that our lives and dreams are so fleeting. As much as we don’t like to come to this realization, this hard truth is what forces us to find something that truly is “built to last.” Something that endures all the changes going on inside us and around us.

Peter today in our reading tells us what we’re looking for, “the word of the Lord which remains forever.” So God’s word, unlike our world, it is “built to last.” Our other two readings help us see this truth at work. In Luke, we are taken back to Easter when two of Jesus’ disciples are making their way back to Emmaus into their skepticism, Jesus draws near. He opens up the scriptures to them so that their hearts burn within them. He placed their hope on the word of the Lord, on something built to last. And to this teaching He attaches the breaking of the bread so that these two recognize and shared with others that their hope truly was on something built to last, Christ the crucified and the One risen!

50 days later from that Easter encounter, Pentecost pandemonium occurred. From this chaotic scene comes this beautiful sermon from Peter that unpacks scripture for the Israelite crowd there. Pointing them to Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of the scriptures. And as many in this crowd recognize their sin and guilt they ask what should we do? Peter again directs them to something built to last, the word of the Lord. He directed them to the work the Lord does through His word. Work that leads to repentance and even baptism. And through this word of the Lord Peter preached, the Lord added 3,000 souls to His family.

Again this weekend, thousands of years later, this word of the Lord, that is built to last, is preached to you.  By God’s grace, His word has endured generation after generation to this very moment so that you and I might know this same glorious truth as those two Emmaus disciples and as that Pentecost crowd. We have been ransomed, we have been bought back from our sinful ways, that we have inherited and even the ones that we have chosen. Ways that have caused us to live apart from God. We have been purchased with something that is built to last, not gold or silver or jewels but the very blood of Jesus. And on this very payment of our Lord, God’s word establishes our hope permanently. Established on this word of the Lord we make use of His forgiving and saving word in baptism, daily we repent of our old sinful nature and by His grace daily we rise to newness of life in Him. Often, at this altar we recognize His body and blood given for us by His promise. A gift given to us for our forgiveness, life and salvation. So that our life may continually be fed and nourished as we await His return.

And whenever we are cut to the heart by our sins and our guilt that we bear we seek the forgiving word of the Lord delivered to us, these are the things that we attach our lives to because the powerful promises of the Lord are built to last. As we are born again and established on something built to last, we get to sincerely love our fellow bros and sis in Christ. Our love is shown as we point each other to the enduring word of the Lord, so we too have hope and peace built on something that lasts. So when moments of crisis come, when tragedy hits, diagnosis are grim, when death strikes, when means of providing dry up, when marriages are close to expiring, when self- worth and value are challenged, when truth is in danger of being covered up, we are there for each other, not with answers and solutions, but the forgiveness and hope anchored in the word of the Lord that remains forever Yes as this world withers away around us, may we encourage each other to cling to this word of the Lord that is built to last. In Jesus name. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.