"'The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.'"
Isaiah 40:8
Look around you today. What's not perishing? What's not destined for destruction?
I love the landscape and the architecture at Texas Tech. I'm sure most who visit the campus walk away impressed by it all, the masonry, the stunning arches, the seemingly endless acres of red-tiled roofs. It's not uncommon to come upon someone on campus frozen in time, mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the buildings and grounds, camera in hand. Imagine making it a point to approach someone so awe-struck to say, "You know, this is all gonna be rubble soon."
After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He went with his disciples to the Temple. There he was tested and tried by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Yet, He spoke so powerfully, so profoundly that they were silenced. "As they left the Temple, one of his disciples said to him, 'Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!'"
"'Do you see all of these great buildings?,' replied Jesus. 'Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'"
What followed must have been an overwhelming revelation for the disciples. The Temple, Jerusalem, all of the THINGS they held holy and dear would be reduced to rubble. The end was near. Jesus held nothing back. He warned of Jerusalem's destruction in graphic detail. Then, he pointed to one solitary, enduring hope they could hold to.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
This is our great consolation in a world that's wasting away. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word that brought this world into being, the Word that became flesh and made His dwelling among us, the Word that is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, this Word stands and cannot be shaken.
For teens and parents overwhelmed by loss and grief, this is the good news. The Word still stands and we can hold to it even when all else fails.
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Amen and amen!
ReplyDeletePsalms 22 a Psalm of lament comes to mind. David feels as if God is not listening to him. He is in so much pain yet he feels abandoned. I think we have all been there and it is a hard place to be. It is good that we have his word so that we can see Gods faithfulness through many generations. God also gives us the body of Christ and it is in the body where we will find answers and feel the presence of God in our times of grief.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly and Traci, and thank you for making the Word such a vital part of your ministry to teens. We may wonder at times about our ability to parent or teach, but the Word of God is faithful and true. May God give you both an ever-growing thirst for Him and His word so that you may have all you need as you live the lives of encouragers at Broadway.
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