Loose or Firm Foundation?

For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 

1 Peter 1:24-25

Rameses II is considered by many to be the greatest of all the Egyptian Pharaohs, reigning 1200 years before Christ. He had military success, enormous wealth, and built great cities, temples, and monuments honoring himself. In the early 1820’s British e xplorers found one of Rameses’ statues, crumbling in the midst of the Egyptian desert. The British poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem about it called Ozymandias, (which was another of Rameses’ names) and it quotes the inscription that was found on the base of Rameses’ statue. It reads:

“‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Rameses and his works were indeed glorious once upon a time. But that time was brief. And now all his cities; all his glory; and even his own statue honoring himself, have now crumbled into the dust.

Ussain Bolt seemed unbeatable for several Olympics, but now he has had to retire. His day is over. Today’s “star athlete” is tomorrow’s forgotten man.

Everything we can accomplish and acquire in this world is temporary, but I Peter says God’s word will stand forever. The verse for our meditation can also be found in Isaiah 40:6-8. In its original context in Isaiah, God gave those words in promise to His people who were in captivity in Babylon that He would restore Israel once again; that the nations that oppressed them would come and go, but His Word to them would not fail. And His word did not fail. The nation that enslaved Israel, Babylon, crumbled and fell on the pages of history; but God’s chosen people remained. They did return to Israel, just like He promised, and produced the Messiah who would be the Savior of the world. The great empire of Babylon fell, but God’s word to His people stood firm.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “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.”  Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

His word does not pass away. Every generation, a new group of so-called “intellectuals” rises up and declares that the Bible is “outdated” and “full of errors and myths”, and predict that it will soon fade into history. And every generation, the Bible shows again its power to save and change lives. Because this is not just a collection of myths and tales; this is the word of the Living God!

The word of God, God’s eternal word will stand forever. This word I am talking about is the word that have stood the test of time. This word shows you how to walk right. This word shows you how to act right. This word shows you how to live right. This word you can hide it in your heart, so that you wont have to sin against the Lord. This word can be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Everything you and I need to know it is in the word.

A life anchored in God’s Word is one that has the hope of eternal life at the center. A life anchored in God’s Word which stands forever has some unique perspectives about life here on Earth.

Dear friends, The challenge put forth to us today by the Apostle Peter is to anchor our souls in God’s Word which instructs and cares for the only thing on this whole planet that does not fade away.

This Lenten Season let us seek to understand and apply God’s word on a daily basis so that we will experience an ongoing, life changing, encounter which has eternal results.

God Bless You