Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Ending His response to Peter, James, John, and Andrew’s question about the end times, Jesus gives us insight into what will remain – The Word of God and the souls of men. Everything else will be destroyed by fire. Peter tells us:
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)
Given that only two things remain, would it not be wise to invest our lives in the Word of God and the souls of men? A cursory look at Scripture gives us much insight into God’s Holy Word. While certainly not exhaustive, the following is a list of what the Bible has to say about the Bible:. God has exalted it: for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. Psalms 138:2 (NIV) . It keeps our way pure: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalms 119:9 (NIV) . It is more precious than gold: 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalms 119:72 (NIV); 127 Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold Psalms 119:127 (NIV) . It is righteous: 75 I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, Psalms 119:75 (NIV); 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. Psalms 119:172 (NIV) . We can put our hope in it: 81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. Psalms 119:81 (NIV); 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalms 119:114 (NIV); I have put my hope in your word. Psalms 119:147 (NIV) . It is trustworthy and true: 86 All your commands are trustworthy; Psalms 119:86 (NIV); 160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalms 119:160 (NIV) . It is eternal: 89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalms 119:89 (NIV); 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matt 24:35 (NIV) . It is boundless: 96 To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless. Psalms 119:96 (NIV) . It is sweet: 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalms 119:103 (NIV); 16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight Jer 15:16 (NIV) . It is a lamp for our feet, a light for our path: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105 (NIV); 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalms 119:133 (NIV) . It is a joy and a delight: 111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. Psalms 119:111 (NIV); 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Psalms 119:143 (NIV); 174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. Psalms 119:174 (NIV) . It is tested: 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Psalms 119:140 (NIV) . It brings great peace: 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165 (NIV) . It is flawless: 6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Psalms 12:6 (NIV); 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7 (NIV); 31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Sam 22:31 (NIV); 5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Prov 30:5 (NIV) . It is God breathed profitable for teaching and training: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV) . It is living and active – judging the thoughts of the heart: 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12 (NIV) . Man lives on it: 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut 8:3 (NIV); 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Matt 4:4 (NIV) . It never returns void: 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) . It cannot be broken: 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods' ? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." John 10:34-38 (NIV) . It cannot be chained: 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 2 Tim 2:8-9 (NIV) . We are to correctly handle the Word of God: 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 (NIV) . It makes you wise for salvation: 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 3:15 (NIV) . We are blessed in keeping it: 1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. Psalms 119:1-2 (NIV) . It sets our hearts free: 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Psalms 119:32 (NIV) . We are commanded to preach it (through our lives and words): 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Tim 4:2 (NIV) . It is healing: 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalms 107:20 (NIV) . It is like fire: 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jer 23:29 (NIV) . It gives freedom: 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NIV)
· It stands forever: 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
It is no wonder that Woodrow Wilson said: “I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure”. Christ is called the Word in Scripture and in Christ are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. Should we not, therefore, wisely invest in this precious Book of which we are so privileged to have access – not only for our good but for the good of others?