July 16, 2023 Text: Isaiah 55:10-13
Dear Friends in Christ,
This little gem of a news story is over 35 years old. “Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin reported to the Senate that the Department of Transportation had squandered $225,000 (a pittance by today’s dollars) on a study forecasting the transportation needs in 2025. Proxmire pointed out this study took the entire federal tax payments of more than 120 of his Wisconsin constituents. And for what? To produce findings like these: 1). If there is a new Ice Age, a lot of people will have to move to the South or Southwest; 2). If people start having a lot of kids again, there will be increased demand for transportation services for them. (What an Einstein to figure that out).
Human wisdom? Things have only gotten worse since then. When you think of human reasoning is it any wonder how mixed-up critics who twist and distort historical fact to demean the Word of God are?
Aren’t we glad for the strength and clarity of God’s Word?
“NOW A WORD FROM THE WORD”
Communication is always a problem. Do you think there are more problems with the way we say things or the way we hear them? Listening to me is the bigger problem. We don’t concentrate enough to be interested. We tune out. I’ve talked with many politicians in my day and many of them, not all, have this way of conversing with you, but I always feel their mind is elsewhere when you talk to them. God’s Word is clear. His words are always right. It is our Creator speaking to us:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water to the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (v. 10-11)
Scripture takes us to the very Word Himself – Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Jn. 1:1 & 14). The Word bled and died for all human sin – rose from the grave – secured our Heaven. In the Word, God communicates His love and mercy to us.
Haven’t we seen the power of rain in the last few weeks? I was out in the country the other night and there were tassels on the corn! Those stalks just took off with the recent rain. That is what God’s Word does. It causes growth. When we are in the Word our Christian faith can take off, we sprout, we grow.
The Word can also convict us of sin. It keeps us in check, so we don’t become self-righteous. Michael Green tells a story that illustrates the convicting power of the Word:
“In a frontier settlement in the west the people were engaged in the lumber business. The town wanted a church, so they built one and called a minister. The preacher was well received until one day he saw some of his parishioners out at the river pulling in some logs from another village upstream. Each log was marked with the owner’s stamp on one end. To his distress, the Pastor saw his member sawing off the end where the telltale stamp appeared.
“The next Sunday, he prepared a forceful sermon on the text, ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ At the close of the service, the people lined up and thanked him for a wonderful message. However, that next week he continued to see his parishioners stealing the logs. He was bothered. So, he went home and worked on a sermon for the following Sunday. The topic was ‘Thou shalt not cut off the end of thy neighbor’s logs.’ When he got through, the church membership ran him out of town.”
The Word either convicts to repentance or to eternal damnation. People today still walk away when the Word is properly applied. The Word is not just there to make us feel bad. Its purpose is to confront us with our weaknesses and bad decisions. It jolts us from our spiritual lethargy and points us to Jesus as the One who has paid the price for our wrongs. We need this each and every day.
The Word is full of hope and promises. You know the spiritually uplifting words, “it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.” What is God’s purpose for us? “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more.” (Is. 43:25). Or listen to this: “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you.” (Is. 41:13)
“The Cynics Guide to Life” did a spoof on familiar cliches concerning life. “I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows…and a foundation leaks and a ball game get rained out.” “Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow…Do not walk beside me, either, just leave me alone”
They express how we feel at times and the “just leave me alone” most of all. But listen, the Word of God has a wonderful way of lifting the heart from the pit of upset, despair, and uncertainty. It directs us to Christ, and He draws us to the love of God; to comfort and guide now and to give joy someday when we have eternal life.
It is always uplifting to have A WORD FROM THE WORD.
Amen.