Jesus Everlasted

What Did Jesus Do?

The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the LORD endures forever.
Isaiah 40.8

I got to see The Book of Eli last night. The violence and the f-bombs turned off the rest of the family, and, I confess, were it not for a friend’s assurance that the film had a very important message I too might have shut it off and gone to bed. But the Fahrenheit 451-type ending was worth it. In a day when the whole earth was withered and humanity had faded God enlisted Eli (Not the fat old priest of Israel who tutored Samuel) to help see that the Word endured.

A long, long time ago the Father entrusted his Word to the Son. Every word the Father spoke the Son not only heard, but, even more, embodied, brought to life, incarnated. The Son is all about the Word because, well, the Son is the Word. And, even if all the rest of creation should fall and pass away, the Son is going to assure the Word of His Father is everlasting. In fact, the only hope of a creation that withers and fades is the everlasting Word.

When an “economic downturn” throws millions out of work, their hope is not in the government’s plans for economic recovery. Or hadn’t you noticed that all kinds of government-type experts have been announcing the end of the economic slide while the millions still have no jobs? When a tornado flattens a town in the Midwest, their hope is not in the Weather Channel’s forecast of clearer skies to come. Or hadn’t you noticed that even the most silver of linings is inevitably followed again sooner or later by dark and destructive clouds? When death claims a family member our hope is not in this life. Or hadn’t you noticed that all who are born into this life one day die? The best of economic policies will always leave some out of work (The poor will always be with us; see Matthew 26.11). Accurate forecasts can only warn of storms, they never prevent them. (Hail and destructive winds, and overflowing floods cannot be turned back; see Isaiah 28.2). Death claims all who draw breath, as Man returns whence he came (Those formed of the dust of the earth return to the dust of the earth; see Genesis 3.19). It is enough to make a preacher despair (See Ecclesiastes 1.)

But all is not in vain as long as the Word lasts, and the Word is everlasting. From eternity past, through this present world, unto eternity future, all things have their beginning in Jesus, the Alpha; and the end of all things (As in their purpose and destiny) is in none other than Jesus, the Omega. (See Revelation 1. 8, 18) Our help in ages past, Jesus everlasts; He is our only hope for all the years to come:

“From everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.”
--Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past

To people who are perishing, living in a world that will itself one day pass away, the Father has sent the Son, that his everlasting Word should be our hope. Though the world thought the cross and the grave had made an end of Him, the everlasting Word rose in glory and in victory, bringing everlasting hope to the world. That’s what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4