In
a passage that presents God’s children as “a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation”,[2] our encouragement is bolstered with a particular Scripture about Jesus
Christ.[3] However, what stood out was the wording that introduced that
reference. The apostle Peter wrote, “For
it stands in Scripture…”[4]
This
impacted me with the reminder of how things stand. They do not stand the way we
see them unfolding around us. They do not stand in the words of man, the
promises of government, or the ideals of environmental agencies. People who mistreat
the children of God will not stand. Beasts, antichrists, and red dragons will
not stand against the judgment and wrath of God. It is the words of God that
have stood, that do stand, that will stand forever, and so we put our faith in
what we hear from God’s words, not what we see with our eyes.
Consider
this word that stands in Scripture:
6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I
cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The
grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The
grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.[5]
It
is “the word of our God” that “will stand forever”. So, when we read
that, “All flesh is grass, and all its
beauty is like the flower of the field… surely the people are grass,” we
can bring to mind all the people who are against God, and against his church.
We are to see them as fragile as grass, and breakable as the flowers of the
field.
Then
we consider that, “The grass withers, the
flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it.” No matter what these
people look like at the moment, when the LORD breathes on them, when he comes
against them in judgment, they will be like grass and flowers withering and
fading under his breath.
On
the other hand, we have the assurance that, “the
word of our God will stand forever”. Scripture stands because God stands.
Who he is makes certain what he says.
The
conclusion for God’s people is: Be done with fear of man and build up your
faith in God. Stand firm on Scripture because Scripture stands unshakeable in
everything to do with God. Faith comes from hearing the words of Christ,[6] so hear what Scripture speaks into your heart and let your faith
grow.
When
Peter draws our attention to what stands in Scripture, he presents this word of
God: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a
stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not
be put to shame.”[7] When we understand that it is Scripture that stands, we can take
our stand on this Scripture. Because Jesus himself is the cornerstone of the
church, the church will never be put to shame. Rather, we know that God will
fulfill his plan “that we should be holy
and blameless before him”.[8] Or, as another brother puts it:
“24 Now to him who is able to
keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his
glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our
Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and
authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”[9]
How
do I know these things are true? Because it stands in Scripture.
From
my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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