Today’s Reading: Psalm 119:57-112
What,
if anything, in this world is actually “permanent”? The building you’re in
is not permanent at all. The sidewalks and the asphalt out there are not
permanent at all. The great roads, bridges, buildings and skyscrapers are not
permanent. In fact, this earth itself is not permanent. The sun is not
permanent, someday it will probably go up into a supernova and burn out. Jesus
said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall never pass away."
(Matthew 24:35) The reality is this: although there is nothing truly permanent
in this universe, there is nothing more permanent than the word of God.
God
and his word are lasting and unchangeable. The meaning here is that the
word - the law - the promise - of God was made firm, established, stable, in
heaven; and would be so forever and ever. What God has affirmed to be true would
always remain true; what He has promised is sure forever.
That is why it is so wrong
for us to talk about the word of God as applying to a particular culture or
time in history. As some would say, "Oh, they just wrote according to the
understanding of their own culture of those times – it really isn’t relevant
for us today." It is so wrong for us to challenge the word of God or seek
to change the word of God because God has forever settled His word in heaven.
God said it; that settles it. There's no disputing of it. There's no arguing of
it. There's no challenging of it. It's the word of God. It's forever settled –
firmly fixed in heaven.
Truth doesn't change with the values or morals of a society. God's
commandments and laws don't change because the standards of our society are so
changed. The truth of God is absolute. The law of God is absolute. It is not
relative to a situation. It is not relative to the morés of a society. God has
established His absolute law. His word is forever settled in heaven. If you
find yourself arguing with the word, you're wrong. God's word is a settled
issue.
The Hebrew word for “firmly
fixed” (or “settled”) in this verse means to set up; to stand; to put into
place. It carries the idea of being set up in an upright and stationary
position – unable to be moved. The Bible you have in front of you has been set up
by God to act as a permanent display of His truth. It never changes. It never
needs revision. It is firmly fixed, not only on Earth – but in Heaven for all
of eternity. You can believe it with confidence and rely on it
with all your heart.
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