Issue 1261 – Best Before – September 29, 2023

We have all seen those “Best Before” Labels on grocery items.  The label doesn’t mean the food must be discarded by that date. The best before date is just that, “Best before.” Afterwards, the foodstuff’s appearance, taste or nutrition may begin to deteriorate.

According to the Government of Canada website, …

The “best before” date does not guarantee product safety. Still, it does give you information about the freshness and potential shelf-life of the unopened food you are buying. This must appear on pre-packaged foods that will keep fresh for 90 days or less. Retail-packaged foods may be labelled with either a “best before” date and storage instructions, or the date packaged, along with a “best before” date and storage instructions.

That is different than the Expiration Date.

This must appear on formulated liquid diets, foods for use in a very low-energy diet, meal replacements, nutritional supplements and infant formulas. After the expiration date, the food may not have the same nutrient content declared on the label. If the expiration date has passed, throw away the food.

I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t help if Christians knew their best before or expiration dates. 

Jesus told a parable:

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” 

Luke 12:16-21

The general use of this proverb is a warning against chasing worldly wealth rather than the things of God. Yet, it also contains an important truth, i.e. none of us know how many days we have left on this earth.

Since we don’t know our expiration date, it is prudent to treat each day as our best before label. If you knew for certain you would die tomorrow, how would you serve Jesus and love others differently?

Do that today; you may not have tomorrow.

That doesn’t mean we don’t make plans for tomorrow or any other future date. Good panning is essential. We just need to learn to adjust those plans as God leads.

Make the most of each day; it might be your last.

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, fix that today. Tomorrow may be too late.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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