"Here to Stay"

“Here to Stay”

 

I once heard a story (I’m not sure if it’s true or made up) of a rural homeowner who became tired of having his roadside mailbox run over. So he bought a piece of railroad track, set it in about four feel of concrete, put wood around it so it looked like a post, and placed the box on top of it as before. A couple of nights later he heard a crash and looked out the window to see a car with two dazed occupants wrapped around the post. In another case cited by a radio preacher (I’ve forgotten which one) an entrant in a sand sculpture contest had his work constantly kicked in. So he covered a couple of cement blocks with a thin coating of sand and was treated to a streak of blue language when the culprit attempted another act of demolition. (I wonder if the perpetrators tried to sue either one for deception.)

In both these cases those bent on destruction hurt themselves more than their intended victims. In Jesus’ encounter with His enemy Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road He said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14). Saul got the point (pun intended) and became the Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary in the history of the church.

During His earthly ministry Jesus stated that two entities are here to stay because both are of divine origin. The first is God’s Word, about which He said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, emphasis added). His friend Peter agrees: “…The word of the Lord stands forever.” (1 Peter 1:25, emphasis added). The other is His church. After Peter’s great statement that Jesus “…(is) the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) our Lord responded, “…(O)n this rock (i.e. the truth of who He is) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Verse 18, emphasis added). The 18^th century French humanist Voltaire boasted that because of his work Christianity would be exterminated within 50 years. Two decades after his death his house became the headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society. (“The One enthroned in heaven laughs….”—Psalm 2:4.) What greater example do we need that God means what He says and opposing Him is futile?

Over the centuries rulers, armies, and scholars have attempted to destroy the Bible and the church. Most of those who tried are lost in the dust of history, but the Bible and church are alive and well today. What more evidence do we need that they are from Above?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan