Expiration Date | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Expiration Date | Previous Challenge Entry
By LaVonne Wood
08/03/13
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“I refuse to buy any of that cheap meat in those small packages,” the lady said as I wrapped up two pounds of ground sirloin for her and handed it over the counter. “I always get the best here at the showcase display.”

Little did she know that the best she believed she was getting was one day short of the expiration date? I hadn’t worked in the meat department long before I realized the ugly truth about the prized ground chuck and ground sirloin in those display cases. The butchers arrived early every morning, before most of the other staff, searched the counters and gathered all the packaged steaks and roasts that were to expire the next day and ground them up for the display racks.

Meat in the displays sold quickly most days, so then fresh meat, like most were expecting to receive, would be put in its place. Some days, however, there would be some of the near expired meat leftover, and since the expiration date was the next day, everything left was promptly discarded in the trash.

This practice by many meat departments was perfectly legal and the meat was still safely edible. Still, these customers who were deceived into thinking they were getting the very freshest, were in reality purchasing meat a few days short of rotten.

Unlike food at the meat counter that always has an expiration date, humans never know the hour they are about to expire. Death may come today, tomorrow, or many years from now. Many are deceived into thinking they have plenty time before they die to do the things they have planned. No one plans for an unexpected death; it just happens.

My brother-in-law kept telling us of his plans to travel after his retirement and share Jesus with all his friends and relatives living in various parts of the United States. Yet, every year he said he would wait and work one more season at his construction job. He never did realize his plans, for in a moment he passed away, no warning, no goodbyes, and no chance to think it over. Thankfully, he gave his life to the Lord years ago, and although he missed out on his future plans, it was evident at his funeral that many of his co-workers were influence by his love for Jesus.

What if someone doesn’t know Jesus? Will that delay in receiving Christ as Savior, cause him to unexpectedly be discarded into the pit of Hell? Are people being deceived into believing they can wait until they are nearly in the grave (rotten so to speak) before that decision is needed? What if their expiration date is sooner than expected?

Being informed about of the handling of meat at supermarkets has changed the way I shop for fresh meat. Also, knowing that my life could end at any time, made me ask some hard questions in preparation for my future. Have I accomplished all God intended for me to do? Am I happy with the life I’ve lived so far? I prayerfully want to consider making the right decisions for the rest of my life. I want to be sure of right standing with the Lord so I can spend eternity with Him, where my soul no longer has an ‘expiration date’.

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