Timeless Truth

May 20, 2008

By Randy Mantik

Jesus said of God’s Word, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NIV). “The word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible is alive! It is not a dusty, moldy book. That’s what makes it different from every other book in history.

But too often even Christians treat it as though it were not quite “up to date.” We’re tempted to try to spruce it up, to remodel the truth a bit to make it work today. What a ghastly thought!

I must confess that at times as I am preparing to teach the Word, be it through a sermon or a class, I’m thinking, “How can I make this more contemporary and relevant?” But as I let the Word speak, it is always powerful. I don’t have to augment it. I just have to let it speak.

God takes note of His Word. “I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled,” He promises (Jeremiah 1:12). In the old days before telephone, faxes and e-mail, messages were sent by courier. Often the courier would not only see that the message was received, but also that it was enacted. God is no different.

The Holy Spirit is God’s courier. He enacts the Word and brings it to life. As we read and speak the Word, we are infused with that life. Our souls become alive! The Word is the mechanism. The Spirit is the catalyst.

The Holy Spirit waits for us to let Him bring God’s Word to life in our lives. When we do that, then the Word can have its desired effect. But that transformation comes about over time. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31, NKJV).

Day in, day out let the power of the Word transform you. It is timeless truth, and powerful.

— Randy Mantik is lead pastor at CrossPoint AG in Portage, Wis.