A word about the Word

In today’s world, everyone looks for the new and exciting things, they look for new ideas and philosophies to apply to their lives. People look for ways to maintain their youth, and even more live out those “glory days”. Things change every minute with no rest in between. But as kingdoms rise and fall, as metal rusts, and we decay, there stands the unchanging, eternal word of God. For followers of Christ, scripture causes us to slow down the work of our hands, the thoughts of our minds and the speed of our lives. Lasting foundations, foundations that stand the test of time are built intentionally, thoughtfully and patiently and the brick and mortar, is the truth revealed through scripture.

Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:47–49 ESV)

What is it about the Word that builds such a strong foundation?

1. God and His Word are Unchanging: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV) // It is so easy to get swept up in experiences, trends, emotions and ideas. Before we know it, we are miles from where we started our journey and lost sight of our way-point. But God’s word remains a beacon of light, hope and truth on the darkest of paths. As long as we stay close to God and his Word, we are never truly lost. — When I came back to church in 2010, I found myself entangled with unbiblical teachings and ideas. I had continued for a few years until the foundation gave out under me. I felt lost and had no idea how to move forward. But as much as I felt lost, God was still beside me, nudging me towards the truth and his love. Those things that were not of God were destroyed and what was left was his unchanging Word.
2. The Word of God is Alive: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) // The Bible is not a collection of intellectual thoughts and ideas. The scriptures are not theory. It is the revelation of God to his creation, embodied in the life of Jesus Christ, the living word (John 1:1). These revelations, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, search our hearts and our minds, bringing to our attention those things that would compromise the foundation of our lives. — When God had allowed the foundations of my life to crumble, what was exposed were the lies I had believed. But by going back to the Word, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, God used the next five years to establish a solid foundation, built firmly on the truth of God’s word.
3. The Word of God is Eternal: “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Luke 21:33 ESV) // Our hope lies in the promise of eternity with God. If our foundation is built upon the Word, then our foundation becomes timeless. The world will crumble around this foundation, but this foundation will remain. This eternal hope drives us to the work God has called us to. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19–20 ESV)

The construction of this foundation takes a lifetime. There will be setbacks and there will be times where it seems like no progress is being made at all. But the power of the Word of God is in it’s truth and faithfulness. Despite what we may feel or see, our hope and faith lies in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1). We go through life experiencing happiness, sadness, anger, hatred, betrayal, rejoicing, grieving, questioning and the list could go on. Through all of our human experiences, God and his Word remain faithful.

Here are a couple of things to think about:

1. Patience is important: It is also a fruit of the Spirit, but there will be certain aspects of your life that will take time to work through. It has taken seven years to make progress on my pornography addiction and there is still work to be done. “ But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 ESV) Isaiah delivers this truth after proclaim that there were none who called upon God. But just as God created his people, even though they strayed, they would be returned and restored by Him. God takes his time.
2. Do not react, respond: There will be many that will come to try and tear down all that the Word of God has built. There will be circumstances that will look to undermine our faith and our hope in God promises, but we should not seek to react in haste to these things, we should respond to the call of Jesus:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28–30 ESV)

I pray that we as followers of Christ would lay down our lives, pick up our crosses and follow Him daily (Luke 9:23), clinging to his Word, quenching unbelief and doubt and building up faith and trust.

Regards, Ben