GOD’S WORD STANDS FOREVER

“The grass withers, the flower fades: but the WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOREVER” – Isaiah 40:8

In contrast to withering and fading flora, GOD’S WORD STANDS FOREVER: “The grass withers, the flower fades because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades: but the WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOREVER” (Isa.40: 7-8). There is a primacy and permanence to God’s Word. The Word of God is God communicating with His children: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jh.1:1). The Word of God is God revealed to humanity. In His Word we see God’s nature, character, attributes and virtues. Like God, His Word is forever settled in heaven: “Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in heaven” (Psa.119:89). We can stand assured and confident on the Settled Word!

What could we do without the Word of God? There is absolutely nothing of eternal value that a man can do without the Word of God: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jh.1:3). It is the Word of God that gives us the means of salvation from sin. His Word confronts us with the reality of humanity’s fallen state, the doom of sinners and the way out through the love and mercy of God. The same Word serves as our compass on our heaven-bound journey. Paul told the Ephesian elders: “So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the WORD of HIS GRACE, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have sanctified” (Acts 20:32). The Word of God also reveals His provision for successful and victorious living here on earth, and how to fully harness His promises.

The Word of God is a living Spirit: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (Jh.6:63). The Word of God reveals the mind of God and therefore His counsel concerning any person or situation. Any family, group or congregation of God’s people that give prominence to the Word of God, teaching and preaching it, and patterning their lives according to it will be blessed. But those that do otherwise are treading on precarious grounds. God expects us to uphold His Word in our lives irrespective of circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego upheld God’s Word even at the risk of death, and they were not disappointed – they were upheld by the Word!

The Word of God will outlast personalities and institutions. Though heaven and earth shall pass away, the Word of God shall not pass away (Mt.24:35). This awesome reality should direct our attitude towards God’s Word. We are admonished to “tremble” at God’s Word (Isa.66:2). This will guarantee that the attention of God’s favour and the release of victory (Isa.66:5). As we feed our minds with the Word of God, they’ll be renewed to think the way God thinks. Most significantly, the Word of God proceeding prophetically from the mouth of His anointed servants is as powerful as the written Word. The story of the Samarian official, who derided the word of God from the mouth of Elisha attests to this. He paid for it with his life (2Kgs.7: 18-20).

Beloved, wisdom demands that we hear, read, study, meditate on, and tremble at God’s Word in obedience, and be blessed!