In verse 23, Peter again makes a contrast between the perishable and the imperishable. He wishes to make the difference clear to his readers. Earlier in verse 7, he has said that although even gold could perish, faith refined by fire will prove genuine and result in praise and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Then, in verse 18, he makes the contrast between "perishable things" like silver and gold, and "the precious blood of Christ," which is "without blemish or defect."

In verses 24-25, Peter draws from Isaiah 40:6-8, and says that all men are like grass and all their glory is like flowers. Just as grass withers and flowers fall, men perish and their glory fades away. Then all their accomplishments and all their boastings become nothing. This is another reason why unbelievers are not to be envied. They strive hard to accumulate wealth and to win respect. They strive hard for glory and to leave a legacy. But then "the Lord blows on them" (Isaiah 40:7), and everything they worked for turns to dust.

Scripture exposes the futility of the non-Christian life, and this enrages the unbelievers. While the elect are raised from spiritual death and awakened from their spiritual slumber to faith in Jesus Christ, the reprobates are hardened, so that they would rather destroy the Christian faith and persecute God's people than to repent of their sins. However, the Christian life, the Christian faith, and the Christian community can never be destroyed. It is built on the indestructible, living and enduring word of God (v. 23-25).

Peter applies this truth to his readers. Even though their persecutors might appear to stand strong at the moment, their strength and glory are transitory, and will wither and fade. But the word of the Lord stands forever. And this word is the gospel that was preached to his readers, and which they have believed.

This is to be our attitude when we face persecution today. Whatever we are facing, we must first recall that God's work is indestructible because it is built on God's living and enduring word. Christians are not produced by societies, traditions, by men's free will, or by accident – they are the product of God's word. So even though men may destroy the bodies, their souls are forever secure through Christ, and the works that they have done in God will never fade. The church is not a man-made institution, but as Jesus declared, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18). The church is indestructible.

Non-Christians may attack the Bible – they can write books against it and make films about it. Certainly, we should answer their arguments and allegations against Scripture. But even before we begin, we can have the confidence that critics and skeptics may come and go – many have been discredited, and still many will come in the future – but the Bible will stand forever.

This is why, although I care very much about the state of the church, and although I am jealous for God's honor, I am never afraid of new attacks, arguments, and theories against Scripture and against the Christian faith. I am never afraid that one day they will manage to discredit the Christian faith, so that everyone will look at it at nothing more than myths and fables. It will never happen. The non-Christians will never win the intellectual battle against our faith.

Neither can they use political power nor even physical force to wipe out the church. Prisons and guns are nothing against God's omnipotence. Yes, they might jail one brother there and kill a sister there. But I am never afraid that one day the unbelievers will seize all the Bibles and burn them. I am never afraid that one day they will kill off all the Christians.

The Christian faith is a work of God, and as such, it is indestructible. Therefore, although we must preach and defend the faith with all zeal, let us do nothing out from fear of the unbelievers. When we consider the unbelievers in light of God's will and power, and in the light of the church's sure foundation, we will regard them as impotent fools, and their attacks as nothing.

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