“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away“– Matthew 24:35

“Nothing lasts forever.” We have become used to the reality of this cliché that we have many times, even as Christians, unconsciously applied this earthly maxim to eternal things.

But Jesus would have us remember that, yes, heaven and earth shall pass away; nothing in this world lasts forever. Cars and carpet, bodies and bank accounts, hobbies and holidays — all eventually break up or break down.

Even nations and world powers rise and fall over time. Did you there is not a single world government still in power today that existed when the United States was formed? As young as this country is, it is already the oldest living government on the planet!

Heaven and earth shall pass away, Jesus says, but my words shall not pass away. God’s words and God’s works will still stand when the earth is on fire.

Now, you may give theological assent to the point Jesus is making, but does the reality Jesus is highlighting infuse your decision-making with an eternal perspective and priority? In other words, do you live as if everything in this world is momentary and God’s promises are everlasting?

If your joy, fulfillment, or comfort is found in your youth…what about when you get old? If it comes from your wealth…what happens when you become poor or too sick to enjoy it? If your happiness is derived from the affection or embrace of others…what happens when they leave or pass away?

Nothing lasts forever, except everything that I do and say, Jesus reminds us. May this reality be reflected this day in everything we do and say.–Baptist Bible Hour

“Search the Scriptures.” – John 5:39
As a pastor I’m often asked to give counsel, or to recommend a program or a book etc. The best advice I, or anyone else, could give you is found here in the words of our dear Savior—“Search the Scriptures”. Mark it down, if you neglect this nothing else will help. James Smith (1840) wrote the following:

“The Bible is God’s Book, a favour bestowed on man; intended to lead him to a knowledge of the nature, perfections, purposes, will, providence, and salvation of God. It contains all that is really necessary to be known.

It should be read carefully, prayerfully, frequently, and in course: every part of the Bible should be read, meditated upon, and prayed over. It makes us wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. We cannot understand the Scriptures, or gather spiritual profit therefrom, but by the Holy Ghost; nor should we expect to be taught the mind of God but by the Scriptures.

Praying, reading, and thinking, should go together; and no one, but he who has proved it, can possibly tell the profit which may be thus gained. Let the Bible be the every-day-book. In it God speaks to your soul, by it He will sanctify your nature, direct your steps, and give you joy and peace. Let not the works of man occupy the place of the Book of God; but search the Scriptures daily, and exercise faith therein.

“Open Thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of Thy law.” Unfold to me the riches of Thy grace, revealed in Thy word.”

O may Thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command!
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to Thy right hand.

“But so shall it not be among you….” Mark 10:43
Whether viewed as instruction, a command, or a warning from the Lord, it was in reality a sad indictment against His disgruntled disciples–in more ways than one. As Jesus faces the cross, the disciples are focused on a throne. Rather than thinking of Him they were thinking about who was the greatest. It started with James and John (vs. 35-40) but it spread to the other ten (vs. 41-42). How sad. At a time when they should have been thinking of Christ they made it all about themselves. And now the ten are angry with James and John, so now we see a disgrace, a distraction, and a division in the church.

Their bickering had to do with who will be the greatest in the kingdom, as if that mattered. By way of rebuke, the Lord draws a contrast between the way it should be with them and the way it was with the gentiles. And, He declares in no uncertain terms that the greatest is he who is willing to serve rather than rule. It might be the opposite with the gentiles, but He says,”..so shall it not be among you”.

Looking beyond the strict context of this we see here a principle that is to be applied to our lives in general. We are to be different! Just because something is lawful, popular, and pleasurable it doesn’t mean we should do it. We are obligated to be unlike the sinful world. This gets to the very root of a very serious problem today. Christians have lost their distinction. While we profess Christ as our Lord and Savior and proclaim that we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17) the world sees no difference between us and them– and that makes a huge difference in our ability to reach them for Christ. Considering the average Christian’s conduct, is it any wonder that we have such a hard time in getting them to listen to our message?

Although we are in the world, we are not of it (John 17:14-16). The world should see a marked difference between us and them. If we lose our distinction we destroy our effectiveness. I’m not talking about being different just for the sake of being different, I’m talking about being different because we walk in obedience to God’s Word and they don’t. And, considering the ways of the world, the difference should be drastic! We must never forget that although we are not of the world we are in it and sent to it with the glorious gospel of Christ. Before we can convince the world to listen to our message they must see the difference that Christ makes in a person’s life. God forbid that we fail!