By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

The Word of our God Stands Forever

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
Isaiah 40:8 English Standard Version

It all happened in a moment.  Margaret had gone to the airport to pick up a friend and my grandson and I were working on our house together.  Suddenly there was a terrible sound of squealing tires and colliding metal just behind us.  When we turned to look there was a giant dust cloud and two smashed autos at the crossroad in front of our house.  We dropped our tools and hurried to help those in the crash.

The two cars were smashed beyond repair but thankfully both drivers were not seriously injured.  My mind flashed back to four years before when another crash at the same intersection ended with a man dying in our arms even before the rescue squad could get there.  Later we were reflecting on what we had learned through that death.

“Life is short and temporary and can end in a moment.  A terrible disaster and long term grief can happen to anyone, anytime.”  We are not in control of our lives.  We often live under the illusion that nothing bad will happen to us and that our lives will never end.  But our lives are like a flower that is beautiful when in bloom, but soon fades and dies.

So then, how should we live our lives?  Fearful of death and afraid of danger?  Or pretending that nothing bad will ever happen to us?  No, for the believer in Christ Jesus, our lives are firmly anchored in God’s Word and his faithfulness and promises.  In the sure belief in the resurrection and in God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.  When Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life and he who believes in me will never die”, we find the place where we can live securely in a very temporary, dangerous, insecure world.

My life could end at any moment.  But in Christ Jesus we find true peace and meaning and a firm place to stand.  In his sure Word we can live by faith and have trust and joy in him.  Trust in him and his Word.  Amen.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado