11-1-2024

 Good Morning All,

      1 Peter 1:24-25; “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

   The autumn of the year is finally here.  The leaves have changed color.  The harvest is pretty much ended.  Soon the ducks and geese are starting to show up.  It is getting a little cooler, especially at night.  The grass is withering, and the flowers are falling.

    For most of us, autumn is a bittersweet time.  The color of the landscape and the harvest both in the garden and the field is fabulous.  Yet another winter is on the way.  The cold and the dreary are coming.  We mark the seasons as we have for centuries, spring, summer, autumn and winter.  The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord remains forever.

    The last part of the verse- the word of the Lord remains forever- was the rallying cry or battle cry of the Reformation.  Nothing will ever destroy God’s Word.  It might get clouded up or they may try to disguise it, but the word of the Lord remains forever.  Think of the things in your lifetime that last forever.  Most things don’t even last a couple years.  We may have a few keepsakes that are antique but the only thing that last forever is the promise from God; the word which is the good news which was preached to you. 

    We can take a lot of comfort in that saying.  No matter what we face, no matter what comes at us; nothing can shake or destroy the love of God the Father for us.  That good new; the promise of life eternal, the blessings of this life and the companionship of the Holy Spirit are all ours because God called us to be his children.  He has called us from darkness into his marvelous light.  He is there for us at all times; his promise never fails.  The word of the Lord remains forever; it remains in you and for you even when you walk away; the word of the Lord remains forever.

    For most of us, the word came when we were young, infants in our parents or sponsors arms while the minster baptized us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  It was there through the good times and bad, the happy times and the sad.  It never mattered whether we sought it or not; it was always there the word of the Lord remains forever.  The word given to you- the word that Jesus died and rose for you so that you may be saved, reconciled back to God.  That word or promise lasts forever.  We can take comfort in the fact that it doesn’t depend on us or our skills or strength.  The word of the Lord remains forever because it is God’s Word and God is faithful and always keeps his word in his time. 

   We sing many hymns which reflect this truth; we speak many verses that honor this truth.  The word of the Lord remains forever.  This is the good news which we have; Jesus died for me that I might live.  It remains forever.

Dear Father, every earthly prop gives way, and you remain to hold us and to comfort us.  Keep us as your dear children and guard us safely in your arms.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor