NO MORE A WORD OF CONVENIENCE 

Forever, Oh Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.  Psalm 119:89

            Mankind picks and chooses which of God’s precepts he wants to follow at any given time.  If it suits him, he obeys.  Look how many times a lead story in the news is introduced with ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.  Scripture, in a post-Christian era, is snatched and used to support the universal message of love.  What commentators fail to quote is what precedes that verse; ‘Loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength.’ 

            I won’t let myself off the hook by generalizing this message.  I used to pick and choose, too.  I aligned myself with the ‘easier’ ways of the kingdom, the ways that were more suited to my personality.  Being gentle, kind, meek…this was not so much modeling the life of Jesus as it was behaving in a way that was intrinsic to my quiet nature.  I wasn’t so eager to model forgiveness, truth-telling, and speaking the Gospel where there was risk. 

            In the heavens, there is no wavering.  God’s Word is fixed there.  He put it there and no one can edit it or silence it.  His Word abides there forever.  Our eternity will be characterized by consistent exposure to the Word that saved us.  Heaven’s government will rest on this Word and no leader will decide to do his own thing. 

            Earth’s leaders have their sterling moments.  The founding of the United States had many of them as leaders built our form of government on many biblical principles.  Behind the scenes though, as in any human institution, God’s Word was put aside in many personal debates and political rivalries.  In heaven, no such inconsistency will exist.  His Word will be declared.  The hearers will all love it and live by it.  We will finally know what it’s like to live in a perfect kingdom where the Word is not corrupted by man’s disobedience. 

Your Word is fixed in the heavens, even today, Lord.  Give me the strength to live in a way that proves I love Your Word more than I love anything else.  Even if I’m out of sync for a season.  Amen