ENDURING QUALITY OF THE WORD OF GOD

"But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this 4 word which by the Gospel is preached unto you." -- I Peter 1:25.

     Peter failed, but the word of Christ was fulfilled, Thus the impetuous Peter was taught the fickleness of his own boasted as well as the enduring quality of the strength, word of God.

     Riches increase and men set their hearts upon them, but the evil day comes and their wealth vanishes like a shadow. Kingdoms rise and rule with pomp and splendor, but their day of power is the day of their overthrow, for pride cometh before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction, and this is as true of nations as it is of individuals.

     But amid all the changing things God's word endures. Skeptics, critics, fanatics and formalists have assaulted it in vain. Like the impregnable rock of Gibraltar it stands; more than this, it is founded on the Rock of Ages, and while that eternal Rock endures the word of God will stand.

     The word of God changes not. The same precious passages which cheered the hearts of the ancient fathers, comfort us today amid the trials of our earthly pilgrimage; and the passages which come to us with such sweetness and power will be sufficient to lift up the head of the last man in all this world upon whom the enemy of souls shall attempt his fiendish wiles.

     Truth is always the same. If we could find out the underlying principles which throb in the hearts of the mightiest of God's angels, we would know the truths which by the grace of God will make us free.

     God's eternity, God's heaven, God's angelic hosts, God's saints, are all moved and animated by this one undying unchanging principle, truth. And Jesus Christ, the earthly revelation of the Godhead declared, "I am the truth."

     The enduring word which is mentioned in this passage is that word which the prophets foretold should be preached. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth. peace."

     The enduring word is the news of the appearance of Christ. "And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

     This enduring word is Christ Himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

     The man who preaches the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven makes known:

     1. The will of God as revealed by the prophets. "The scriptures of the prophets" are a never failing storehouse of good things out of which the wise scribe brings forth things new and old.

     2. He makes known the will of God as revealed by the apostles. These ambassadors of heaven were commissioned and sent forth by the Lord to make His will known to the world, and the minister of the new covenant repeats this message in no uncertain manner.

     3. The true minister of the gospel makes known 'Christ Himself. The burden of the preaching of Paul was an attempt to reveal Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and the herald of the cross, along with John Baptist, cries, "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world."

     Oh, that the word of God may dwell in my heart richly, that I may be given wisdom to speak a word in season to him that is weary! Oh that God would give the power to proclaim to all the unsearchable riches of Christ, and fill up the measure of God's will concerning our duty, that we may rejoice with Him forever, world without end. Amen.

 THE END