God’s Word Abides Forever

. “There is no stability in anything that man does or produces … but God and His word endure forever the same”.

 

1Peter​​ 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,​​ 23​​ for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, [that is,] through the living and abiding word of God. ​​​​ 24​​ For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. ​​ THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,​​ 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER."​​ And this is the word which was preached to you.

Assumed –

  Obedience to the truth,

  Heart sanctified​​ by Christ’s blood,

  Resulting in​​ a sincere love for those​​ who are​​ like-minded,

  Fervently​​ and actively seeking to encourage one another.

The above is only possible​​ if you have been called by God’s grace. ​​ God’s word is​​ living,​​ has the power to​​ change hearts, and will​​ continue forever. ​​ This truth is unlike our own​​ physical bodies​​ which will cease to exist.

Consider for a moment the​​ comparison​​ of flesh and​​ grass. ​​ Grass grows,​​ flowers,​​ and​​ turns​​ to seed, then​​ it​​ dies​​ and​​ withers​​ away. ​​ Man​​ is born physically,​​ grows, even​​ flourishes, but then​​ fades and​​ physically​​ dies.​​ ​​ Man, like grass, is weak and​​ transitory​​ – here today and gone tomorrow. ​​ Ponder the strength you had ten or twenty years ago; perhaps​​ at one time​​ you were heralded for a great accomplishment or success in life or work. ​​ Even these moments of thriving fade with time. ​​ Man’s​​ success is short-lived just like the flowering seed of grass.​​ ​​ There​​ is no certainty in​​ our​​ flesh, accomplishments, or possessions. ​​ However,​​ there is permanency in​​ God’s word which is​​ all-powerful and eternal. ​​​​ Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary​​ says​​ man “is corruptible and decaying”, God is abiding. ​​ “There is no stability in anything that man does or produces​​ … but God and His word endure forever the same”.

1 Peter 1:24-25 is a quote from​​ the book of​​ Isaiah where God spoke to the prophet Isaiah, instructing the church to stand on the lasting promises of God rather than men.​​ ​​ A​​ voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is​​ like​​ the flower of the field. ​​​​ The grass withers, the flower fades,​​ when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;​​ surely the people are grass. ​​​​ The grass withers, the flower fades,​​ but the word of our God stands forever, Isaiah 40:6-8.

“ …where the preaching of the Gospel is foretold, and recommended from the consideration, that​​ everything​​ which is merely human, and, among the rest, the noblest races of mankind, with all their glory and grandeur, their honors, riches, beauty, strength, and eloquence, as also the arts which men have invented,​​ and the works they have executed, all decay as the flowers of the field. But the incorruptible seed, the Gospel,​​ called by the Prophet, the word of the Divine nature, which it is the instrument of conveying to believers,​​ will remain in them to all eternity.”​​ Dr. Macknight.

The​​ Word of the Lord is the Gospel. ​​ Trusting in the Gospel, understanding and accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord​​ is life​​ everlasting. ​​​​ The apostle Peter quotes Isaiah​​ because it is the same word​​ spoken then​​ as it was​​ beforehand. ​​ And this same Gospel is true​​ for​​ us​​ today. ​​ Without the Gospel,​​ man is destined for​​ destruction. ​​ With the Gospel​​ man​​ is​​ able to​​ have​​ confidence in his​​ redemption.

Tomorrow, our country celebrates Thanksgiving​​ which commemorates a feast held in​​ the early 1600’s.​​ ​​ Consider what you are thankful for. ​​ Everything you might list is a direct blessing from the hand of God. ​​​​ Our families, friends,​​ employment, shelter, clothing, food, transportation, health,​​ the air we breathe, plants, animals, stars, the sun’s warmth, the moon’s glow, new life, long life, even difficulties and the stretching circumstances which cause us to look up​​ at something greater than ourselves.​​ ​​ Of all these blessings, your standing as​​ God’s​​ child in​​ His eternal​​ glory​​ is​​ most important. ​​ Is God at the top of your list?​​ ​​ Are you willing to​​ accept His almighty power and absolute perfect​​ plan for your life? ​​ ​​ Let us live each day and each moment in gratitude for the inexpressible value of eternal hope.​​ 

Glaringly opposite​​ of the lasting value of God’s word​​ is man’s​​ fleeting existence. ​​​​ 

 ​​ Job 14:1-2 "Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.​​ ​​ "Like a flower he comes forth and withers.​​ ​​ He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

King​​ David​​ understands this comparison,​​ “My days are like a lengthened shadow; and I wither away like grass. ​​ But Thou, O Lord, dost abide forever; and Thy name to all generations”, Psalm 102:11-12.

Ps 103:14-17​​ For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are [but] dust.​​ ​​ As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.​​ ​​ When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer.​​ ​​ But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

Dust​​ is a good description of man. ​​ What happens to​​ dust​​ when you blow on it? ​​ It​​ dissipates​​ into the air. ​​ This is man. ​​ However, we do have value,​​ God sent His only Son, Jesus​​ Christ​​ to die​​ for us​​ so that we​​ might live forever with Him.​​ ​​ This is our value –​​ God alone.​​  ​​​​ God’s word is the clear representation​​ of Himself. ​​ It is His​​ communication to us of who He is, who we are, what He has done, and what we need to do.

Isaiah​​ Chapter 51​​ was written to comfort the Israelites held captive in Babylon. ​​ In verses​​ 12-13, God reminds them of man’s powerless state. ​​ “I, even I, am He​​ who comforts you. ​​ Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who is made like grass; that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; that you​​ fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? ​​ But where is the fury of the oppressor?”

  • How does thinking rightly of man and rightly of God affect your​​ attitude and choices?

All flesh,​​ the body, what is external,​​ human nature with all its physical and moral frailties, is like grass. ​​ There is a very short time in our valley​​ when the hills surrounding us are green. ​​ It is quite beautiful to take a drive within the period​​ when things are blooming. ​​ Consider the poppy fields we get to enjoy each​​ year. ​​ Yet​​ how long is the season of their blooming? ​​ Just as the green​​ hills and fields of​​ wildflowers​​ shrivel and dry up, so will man’s flesh. ​​​​ Perhaps there will be​​ moments of​​ glory,​​ but those moments​​ quickly fade and are tossed aside, having no lasting value.

The Word of the Lord abides​​ forever. ​​ It will continue through all time, it will endure through all circumstances, it stands on its own, it is present now and will remain. ​​ Its strength will never cease, and its intent will never change or be diminished. ​​ It is perfect, it saves, it is sure, it is wisdom, it is joy, it is holy, it is judgment, and it is​​ protection,​​ (Psalm 19:7-11).

The Word feeds the soul.​​ 

Psalm 119:103

Matthew 4:4

The Word​​ is​​ light in the darkness.

Psalm 118:105

Proverbs 6:23

The Word​​ warns and it blesses.

Proverbs​​ 29:18

Luke 11:28

The Word​​ purifies

Psalm 119:9

John 15:3

 “But the word of the Lord abideth for ever in undiminished force and vigour, nor can ten thousand succeeding ages prevent or abate its efficacy. ​​ Now this, which the prophet refers to in the oracle I have just been quoting, is the word which is preached to you in the gospel: show, therefore, your regard to it by such a temper and behaviour, both towards God and man, as it was intended to inculcate and produce”,​​ Philip Doddridge N.T.

John​​ 6:63-68,​​ "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;​​ the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ​​​​ "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and​​ who it was that would betray Him. ​​​​ And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to​​ you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."​​ As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. ​​​​ Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"​​ Simon Peter answered Him,​​ "Lord, to whom shall we go? ​​ You have words of eternal life.

Good question – where else would we go, where else do we go. ​​ Either we live in the world and for ourselves​​ or we live in Christ for Him. ​​ The first will afford​​ moments of happiness based on circumstances,​​ yet​​ discouragement​​ and failure​​ will reign​​ as we are tossed to and fro in the​​ volatile​​ waves of man’s wisdom. ​​​​ The latter promises joy based upon​​ our value in Christ, His purpose for us and​​ the certain hope of eternal life.​​ ​​ ​​ Ephesians 4:14​​ says,​​ As​​ a​​ result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

  • What is your response? ​​ Do you know and​​ understand​​ these things to be true, having accepted them in your heart?

John 20:31 but these have been​​ written​​ that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

James 1:5-6​​ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ​​​​ But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

  • Do you possess the certain hope of eternal life?

Romans​​ 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

  • Have you placed​​ your​​ complete​​ trust in God’s absolute holiness?

1Kings 8:56 "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.

Psalm​​ 111:7-8​​ The works of His hands are truth and justice;​​ all His precepts are sure. ​​​​ They are upheld forever and ever;​​ they are performed in truth and uprightness.

Matthew​​ 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.

The Word of the Lord, the Gospel, is permanent.

Psalm​​ 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.

This is what was preached​​ then by the apostles; it is what we should proclaim​​ now.​​ ​​ If we​​ have been born for eternity, we should now live for eternity. ​​ Christ crucified is the only means that will save a soul.

  • Are​​ you counting on your​​ own​​ life, your works, your​​ charitable deeds, your ‘claim to fame’,​​ the church you attend,​​ or your heritage or association with a religious group,​​ to​​ be the key​​ to your​​ eternal​​ future​​ salvation?

Eternal salvation, rendered only through the​​ death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is​​ rendered​​ by God’s grace​​ through faith in Christ alone. ​​ 

In response, the gifts and strengths God has given to each of us are not to be used​​ for our recognition​​ or profit. ​​ All that we are able to do is to be used by God, for His glory. ​​ Our worship​​ is the praise we offer to God,​​ through​​ the life He has given,​​ which​​ seeks to honor His name,​​ in obedience to His word,​​ which will abide forever.

Beautiful, Precious, Costly Freedom

Consider Patrick Henry in his speech on March 34, 1775. Most American’s are familiar with this famous quote: “give me liberty or give me death”. It means that freedom is worth dying for.

Freedom. ​​​​ We are blessed to live in a country where we are free to pursue the things we believe. ​​ Our freedom came at a great price. ​​ Countless lives have been lost in obtaining our independence from neighboring countries. ​​ Most Americans would agree they are thankful for their freedom and for those who died fighting for it, and for those who continue to defend our country.

Complete freedom is found in Christ. ​​ Our freedom from the control of sin was purchased at a great price – Jesus’ death on the cross. ​​ Jesus’ victory over sin once and for all was obtained when He miraculously rose from the dead. ​​ Those who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,​​ and have accepted His gift of deliverance from sin’s grasp, celebrate freedom now and forever where we will one day be free from sin’s​​ presence​​ altogether. ​​ Praise God for His love and mercy shown toward us and for the sacrifice of His only Son!

Joh 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Free meaning to liberate, to deliver. Consider Patrick Henry in his speech on March 34, 1775. ​​ Most American’s are familiar with this famous quote: “give me liberty or give me death”. ​​ It means that​​ freedom is worth dying for.​​ ​​ 

God chose that our freedom from sin was worth dying for. ​​ 

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”​​ 
―​​ Patrick Henry​​  ​​​​ 

Praise God that He has chosen you to live in a country where you are free to worship Him. ​​ Your freedom from slavery in this country has been purchased with the price of countless soldiers. ​​ Your freedom from slavery to sin has been purchased with the price of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. ​​ 

The most effectual means of securing the continuance of our civil and religious liberties, is always to remember with reverence and gratitude the source from which they flow. – John Jay, First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

America was founded on the understanding of its need for God and trust in God. ​​ Pull out the coins and paper money you have in your wallet and consider what it says: ​​​​ In God We Trust. ​​​​ Do you?