1 Peter 1:18-19 - Silver and Gold

1 Peter 1:18-19

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (V18) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, (V19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.(V20) He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.(V21) Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Gold and silver. Or “silver and gold, silver and gold, everyone wishes for silver and gold,” if you enjoy singing along with Sam the Snowman (aka, Burl Ives) on Rudolph. Gold and silver have been the two most valuable metals throughout history. Yet Peter calls them “perishable” – which in the Greek means “decayed” and “corruptible” – or in other words, worthless.

Let’s look at these worthless metals for a moment. The oldest coin in the world is over 2700 years old and made from a natural alloy of gold and silver. Do you know what was going on 2700 years ago, or in 700 BC? Hezekiah was king of Israel, Rome was a newly founded collection of shacks, and some Greek people did some stuff; that’s about it. If you think that is a long time ago, people have been separating silver from lead since 3000 BC. Gold and silver have been around for a really long time.

Gold will keep its shape forever as long as no external forces are applied and it won’t melt until it reaches 1947.52 degrees Fahrenheit. As a point of comparison, Lead melts at 621.43 degrees Fahrenheit. That is hardy. And a final point, as I’m writing this, gold sells for $941 per ounce – or $15,056 per pound. That is pretty valuable.

Looking at the facts, how can Peter call these durable, valuable, and ancient metals decayed and corruptible? Gold and silver are worthless only when compared to something of immensely greater value and longevity, something like the blood of Christ, the eternal lamb without blemish or defect. God did not redeem us with money or earthly commodities, but with the life of His only Son.

Now that I have a son, this truth becomes more real. On my best day, I might give my life for someone else – but I would never, and I mean never, give my son’s life for anyone. Sorry, but the life of my son is more valuable than any other life in the world. And I’ve only had my son for about 5 months – imagine God’s feelings for the Son that He has enjoyed for eternity.

The value of a thing is not determined by its inherent worth, but the price someone is willing to pay for it. God purchased you and me at the highest, most precious price possible, the life of His Son. We have no inherent value in and of ourselves – we are sinful creatures and deserve only to pay the penalty for sin – death. Yet in God’s amazing grace, we are infinitely valuable because God spent the blood of His Son to redeem us. The price of our redemption means that we are infinitely valuable.

Contemplate this love of God that chose to redeem you with the blood of Jesus. I don’t know if we are able to truly comprehend the sacrifice He made for us, but we can accept it and thank Him for it. Spend a few moments today and thank God for loving you – don’t ask for anything – just thank Him for His amazing love!

“Human things must be known to be loved, but Divine things must be loved to be known.” – Blaise Pascal