Everything Will Pass Away, God’s Word Is Here To Stay
LENT 2022 | DAY 29
Matthew 24:1-35 (NIV)
(Yeo Su Chen, Chairperson, Communications Ministry)
READ:
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. (Matthew 24:35)
OBSERVE:
This prophetic chapter is power-packed with all the major natural and man-made events that would happen before the return of Christ. Many Christians use this chapter as a reference when we want to learn more about the major events that must unfold in this world before the return of our Lord Jesus. There are lots to digest, debate and deliberate on in this chapter.
For this BRD exercise, I would like to focus on the last sentence of the chapter. Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” The world is going through unprecedented times in modern-day history. Barely out of a global pandemic, we are now watching a mega human tragedy unfold in the Ukraine war before our very eyes.
A current affairs junkie, I am glued to my computer screen every day. Once I have finished typing my emails or in between reading my emails, I would toggle the screen to read the latest breaking news on the news websites.
As I am bombarded with images of fleeing children, elderly men and women and fighting soldiers, I wonder if those fleeing refugees from Ukraine could experience God’s protection as they run.
I wonder if those Russian tourists stranded in faraway places from their homes, because their flights home were cancelled, could still feel that God is watching over them.
I wonder why these people are suffering where they are and I am here, safe and sometimes even taking my comfort for granted, in Singapore.
I silently wonder how I would hold up if the situation was reversed and it was me going through such perils. Would I still place my trust and dependence upon God when my family’s safety is in serious doubt, when the world is crumbling around me?
APPLY:
The last verse in this sobering passage, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (verse 35), reminds me that no matter what my life circumstances are, regardless of how bleak the world is, God’s word will still stand strong through all the earthly destructive events.
Even if the world around me seems so chaotic and tumultuous, I must continue to focus on God’s Word and His faithfulness to me. I must not let the confusing and messy world around me overwhelm me and make me doubt His faithfulness.
I can, therefore, stand assured that His promises to me and His covenant to His people will withstand the earthly devastations and destructions. I must put my faith in the one and only God who is sovereign over everything on earth and in heaven.
DO:
I will read His Word and be reminded I am His beloved and His Word and promises will stand forever after all has passed away.
On a smaller scale, whenever I face challenging setbacks and storms in my daily life, I will remember His Word and fix my gaze on Him.
I will continue to do what I can every day, being heavenly-minded and doing earthly good as He has commanded me to do in His Word.
I will take an eternity perspective when I am saddened by the news of war, injustices, and natural disasters and do not understand why God allows such destructions, depredations, and desolations to happen in this world. I am reminded God is sovereign and He is in control of this world.
PRAY:
Lord Jesus, forgive me when I am overwhelmed by the world’s bad news and wonder about Your whereabouts amid the ruins. I pray that You will increase my faith and help me to lean on You so that no matter what happens, regardless of the circumstances, I can have the strength and stamina to stand firm in You.
Make me a good soil so that Your word can nourish me and be rooted in me. Help me to read and understand Your Word so that when all else fails, Your Word and Your promises will comfort me and give me hope and I will not stray from Your fold. Thank you, Lord Jesus for Your Word. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
