Forever Words

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8 ESV). This past week was the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the film, Back to the Future. Movies seem to always present us with an unforgettable moment. Sometimes it is with “forever words.” Perhaps you remember some of the following quotes:  "ET phone home" was the line from Gertie (Drew Barrymore) in ET the Extra-terrestrial (1982).  "Go ahead, make my day" was said by Inspector Harry Callaghan (Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact (1983).  "Here's looking at you, kid" was the famous line from Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca (1942).  "If you build it, he will come" is from Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) in Field of Dreams (1989).  "I'll be back" was first said by Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984).  "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" is one of my all-time favorites; and, it was a line delivered by Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) in The Godfather (1972). As memorable as these words are, they certainly won’t last for thousands of years. We do have some genuine “forever words.” In our reading today the prophet Isaiah simply declares that “the word of our God will stand forever.” Of course we could see this as a reference to the Bible. No serious scholar would deny the ancient origins of this compilation of books. However, the prophet is making a reference to the specific promises of God to his people. Those promises all come to a sharp relief in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of God’s ultimate promise of redemption. Here’s how John Gill explains this passage: Concerning “the word of our God shall stand for ever,” the Apostle Peter adds, by way of explanation, and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you; who seems to distinguish the word from the Gospel, by which it is preached, and to intend Christ the essential Word; who stands or abides for ever as a divine Person; in his office as Mediator, being Prophet, Priest, and King for ever; in the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; and in the fullness of his grace: it is true of the written word or Gospel, which remains, is everlasting, and will stand and continue, notwithstanding the persecutions of tyrants, the craft of false teachers, the reproach of ungodly men, and the death of the best of men, even of ministers; though all flesh is grass, fading and withering, the word of God is fresh and lively, firm and durable; and so it is as transcribed into the hearts of men, where it becomes the engrafted word, and issues in everlasting life. It may be applied to God's word of promise, which is forever settled in heaven, and is always fulfilled. That’s a real forever word… Jesus is our hope for eternity!