“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
The written word of God is as timeless as the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us. God’s words never deviate in their meaning or effect because they are “Spirit-breathed, and living. The objective word of God lives by virtue of the One who spoke it, keeps it, confirms and accomplishes it. The truths embedded in the Scriptures are as valid today, as they were yesterday. Even though written down thousands of years ago, the evidence and power of the Divine Author are clearly seen by the individual who is willing to see. These truths are priceless as they deal with the precious worth of life eternal, for in the end, all of them lead us to Christ who is Life. How do we recognize the effects of these words, promises, and commandments? How is their worth revealed to men?
It was David, in Psalm 8, who wrote: “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength.” (v.2) The Apostle Paul would write thousands of years later: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen thee weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Cor. 1:27) It has been said that the Gospel of John is shallow enough for a child to play at its edge, and yet, deep enough for an elephant to bath in it. So we gather from these verses that the word of God applies to the smallest of us, and at the same time, is not limited in its blessed effect, when the Spirit of God applies it. The living, fresh word of God, is filled with His mercies every morning, and destined to guide the faith of the believer to trust God according to the truth. The ancient world after Pentecost, was turned upside down because of basically two things, the specific word of God being spoken in the demonstration and the power of the Spirit, and the working of the Spirit in power according to the revealed will of God declared in the gospels, and letters, in the New Testament. The timelessness of the word of God at that time, as well as the timeless blessing of the Spirit of God, and His use of the truth today, lays the foundation for the believer to trust God for His highest and best, for the honoring of His name, the coming of His kingdom, and the doing of His will. But how does this work today, and what should be our expectation?
When the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, He basically said three things. The first was that He addresssed Saul by his name, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4) With that living and powerful, yet simple question, Christ seizes the attention of Saul. He then identifies Himself to Saul: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” (v.5) All of a sudden, Saul is brought face to face with the realization that he has been fighting against the Lord, the King, the Savior Himself. But, it is in the simple command to Saul to, “…Arise, and go into the city,” there to be told what he must do,” that Saul is brought to the place of submissive faith in Christ, by the power of Christ’s very simple words. The command is so natural, normal, and simple…we might even say, ordinary, and yet the blessing that awaits Saul is beyond what he could ever imagine or think. God’s words still hold their freshness and power today, for the One who spoke them, speaks them still, applying them to the hearts and lives of His servants.
It would be to Timothy, the spiritual son of Paul the Apostle, to whom Paul would write: ‘Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 3:15) Why so much emphasis on the accurate communication of the word. God reveals His timeless life and power through His word.
Dear Father, Give us to know Thy Son’s Life according to Thy word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.