The Word of God Shall Stand Forever

Dear class,

The readings today are taken from Isaiah 39, 40 and Mark 10:1-31

Isaiah 40 is a glorious chapter depicting the glory and might of God. It includes the prophecy of the ministry of John the baptizer (v.3-5; c.f. Mat 3:3; Mar 1:2,3; Luk 3:2-6; Jhn 1:23), and one of the passages that proves the scientific foreknowledge of the bible (v. 22 - about the earth being round).

Incidentally, Isa 40:8 is one of the first verses quoted to me (by sis Irene in fact!) when I was a young convert.
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." An excellent exhortation to the young babes in Christ and the most mature Christians alike.

In this disposable age, the "simple" solution to deficiency is increase! Not enough food? Buy more. (Instead of preventing waste) Not enough space? Get a bigger place.(instead of stopping the purchases!) Not enough money? Work more! (Instead of just being content with what we have)
Unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual matters - not enough faith? Do we spend more time working on it?

Brethren, we need to constantly remind ourselves - our life here is but a span. It's but a preparation phase for an eternity to come. Oftentimes, we live as if we want or could stay here forever! There's no way we could bring our worldly possessions with us. There's no way our worldly possessions could make us right before God. Yet far too often, we put our time and trust on things that perish. Recall the parable of the rich fool:
Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Indeed as James mentioned, upon what can we boast about tomorrow?

Jas 4:13  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

We can but only trust in God's word and put our focus in preparing for the eternal, not the temporal! As Paul exhorts, we would do well to set out affections on things above and not on things on earth (Col 3:2).
The Word stands forever! And indeed it is the Word by which we will be judged (Jhn 12:48). Bearing in mind we all have to give account to God (Rom 14:12).
The concluding verses in Isa 40 gives us great comfort even as we strive to live our lives righteously before God -

Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Let us continue to "wait upon" (i.e. serve) the Lord as good and faithful servants so that we may stand in eager anticipation of entering into the joy of the Lord (Mat 25:21,23), knowing very well His Word stands forever and what He says, He will surely bring to pass.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ~ Galatians 6:1
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. ~ Galatians 6:10