When Everything is Changing Something is Not

What can you depend on when everything is changing in the world? We live in uncertain times when things that we thought were sure are now questioned and things that we thought were solid are now shaky. Where can you go to find a firm foundation that you can trust? What can you stand on and build your life on that is sure and dependable?

There is something that we can trust at all times, though the whole world is shaking. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 ESV)

How can we know and trust that the Bible is true and accurate? We can turn to the greatest authority on truth ever to live, Jesus Christ. Jesus verified the Old Testament Scriptures as trustworthy and true (e.g. Luke 24:44, Matthew 5:17-18). He also promised that His apostles would accurately record the truth when they wrote the books of the New Testament (John 14:26).

But how can we know that Jesus is a trustworthy authority on the subject of truth? In His ministry he told us many things, not only about the scriptures, but also about His work that He came to do. Jesus not only said that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets but also to give us life, truth, peace with God, forgiveness and eternal life (John 10:10, 18:37, 12:46, 3:16-17 and 6:32-51). He even said He is God (John 10:31-33).

How do we know these are not just empty words? He proved it by keeping the most difficult promise, to rise from the dead (Mark 8:31, Matthew 17:22, Luke 9:22). If he was able to raise himself from the dead, surely we can trust everything he said to be true. All of it. Every word. Forever. And not just his own words but also the things he told us were true: all of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.

Back to the question: what can you depend on? Jobs go away; health fails; wealth flees; the world writhes; the culture chases vain fads; and who can predict what the future will bring? Even our close relationships fail us because we and those we love are faulty, sinful, selfish creatures at heart. We cannot even trust our feelings. We stand in the top of the hourglass, climbing sand as it slips away under our feet. Where is the firm place we can stand? It is Jesus and His word, as He said:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

What, then, shall we do? How do we build on that firm foundation?

1. Find a church that teaches the Bible as God's unchanging truth.
2. Read the Bible yourself, praying to Jesus to give you faith and understanding.
3. Trust in Jesus and his word, more than you trust in anything else. Leave behind the sliding sands of worldly thinking and our selfish sins. Build your life, thoughts and beliefs on the firm foundation of God's word and wisdom. Trust in Jesus to forgive you for your sins; it is what he came to do.
4. Teach these things also to your children, grandchildren, family and neighbors. They need the firm foundation as much as you do.

We are only here for a short time. As Christians we are pilgrims on the way to heaven. Pilgrims wandering though a foreign land need a map, or else they will go the wrong way or wander into grave danger. God has given us that map. It is the Bible. We can trust in it. “The word of our God will stand forever.”