Truth Remains
An excerpt from the new book, She Reads Truth
Like the rock that withstands the raging fire, the Truth will remain. Everything around it will perish, but the Truth—and the One who gives it—will remain.
The prophet Isaiah stated it plain as day: “the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isa. 40:8). Jesus, standing on a mountain, said the same to His disciples: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35). And listen to these no-nonsense words from Peter’s second letter: “But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed” (2 Pet. 3:10).
The facts of our lives will melt away with the heat; they were never meant to last. But when the trappings of this temporary life burn away, what will be revealed? Is my life hidden in the immovable, imperishable rock of God and His Word, or am I climbing hills made of lesser things and hoping for the best?
If the stuff of life will burn away, why can’t I ignore the cares of today and simply hold out for the eternal tomorrow?
I could, were it not for Jesus.
Jesus knew exactly how temporary the things of this world are. He was “with God in the beginning,” after all, and “all things were created through Him” (John 1:2–3). Even so, “He emptied Himself . . . taking on the likeness of men,” the Creator becoming like one of His created for the sake of reconciling them eternally to Himself (Phil. 2:7). He was Emmanuel, God truly with us.
The Son of God came to earth to die in our stead. Who would have blamed Him for biding His time until the end?
But that’s not who Jesus was. Ignoring the world around Him would not have brought glory to His Father. And ignoring the people around Him was not in His nature—a nature defined by love and holiness, justice and grace.
Instead of keeping His distance, the Son of God did the opposite: He fully entered in.
Jesus attended weddings and cooked breakfast. He started conversations with strangers and fed hungry crowds. He embraced lepers and healed the hurting. He took notice of widows and sat orphans on His knee. He wept with His friends and He loved His mama.
Jesus knew precisely what would and wouldn’t last, and He chose to be all here. He chose to be fully present, out of obedience to His Father and love for His people. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same.
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