Mar 11
Unchangable
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Yesterday we talked about how
churches and cultures change. Today I want to think about one of the
supernatural things we can hold in our hands. The unchanging Word of God. What
a blessing to have the Bible in our own language. Until about 500 years ago the
Bible was only available in Latin or its original languages; Greek for the New
Testament and Hebrew for the Old.
About 1450 Gutenberg printed 180
copies of the Bible, but not in English. By 1525 Tyndale hade made an English
Translation of the New Testament. I think these two events, the technology of
printing, and the Bible in English, were timed by God to reach a world
awakening from the dark ages. The invention of the printing press and movable
type opened the way to mass education and what would become the information
age. The printing press also helped to
spread Luther’s 95 Thesis (date 1517) across Europe and bring on the Protestant
Reformation.
But back to our unchanging Bible.
There are several Scriptures that describe the permanence of the Word of God.
Ps 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of
old
that thou hast founded them for ever.
The book of Deuteronomy, the last of
the five books of Moses, reads a little like a coaches last instructions to the
team before an important game. Moses knew he was not going into the promised
land but gave last minute instructions to the Israelites to remember some key
principles. In chapter 4 he reminds them of the importance of the Word of God.
De 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which
I command
you, neither shall ye diminish
ought from it, that ye may keep
the commandments
of the LORD your God which I command you.
He repeats the same warning after
telling them not to be snared by the false gods the nations around them
worshipped. But they should do what they
had been commanded to do.
De 12:32 …observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto,
nor diminish from it.
Isaiah understood what the psalmist
had said. The Word of God will last.
Isa 40:8 The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
In Matthew we are told the smallest
letter of the Greek alphabet, Iota (jot) and even an extension on some letters
(the tittle) are preserved.
Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in
no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.
It might seem extreme to be
concerned over the smallest part of the Law. But if God cannot preserve His
Word, what about our souls? Or would you prefer a God who said “Hey, no big
deal. Close is good enuf!” Here in the
Olivet discourse of chapters 24 and 25 we read that Christ said His word would
not pass away.
Mt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not
pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth
shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Note that Christ was not talking
about thoughts but words. “My word shall not pass away” The scriptures in 1
Peter continue the same theme. The Word of God will last, unchanging, even to a
jot and tittle.
First Peter also promises the word will be preserved.
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever….
Re 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.
What a blessed thought. The Bible we
hold in our hands today is the Word of God. It has been preserved, and will
continue to be preserved. It is a trustworthy book which shows us the clear
path of salvation, how to live for Christ and when the time comes, how to die
in Christ. Bless His holy name for this marvelous book.
Lu 21:33 Heaven
and earth shall pass away:
but my words shall
not pass away.
NOTE: If you have questions about modern translation and the
preservation of the Word of God please contact me at my Email address. davidwiseley@gmail.com. Thank you for reading my blog.
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