“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
In the 1950’s Betty Cornell’s Teenage Popularity Guide offered advice and guidance for young girls who wanted to be poised, self-confident, and “shiny bright.” A few years ago, then 13-year-old Maya Van Wagenen read this guide, and she says that without a doubt her initial impression was how outdated it was. However, having had personal difficulty making friends and being social, Maya gave some of the guidance a try. Through her own “social experiment” she documented her experience in her own book entitled Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. Van Wagenen came to realize was that what was not outdated about Cornell’s original guidebook was a message that has withstood the test of time. Maya says that “it’s really less about what you wear and how you look and more about the kind of person that you are.” Over fifty years ago Cornell captured this universal truth that Maya has now been able to validate first-hand, and recently Time Magazine cited her as one of their most influential teens.
We live in a throw-away society where the stuff of life becomes outdated very quickly. It should not surprise us, therefore, that some will debate whether the words in the Bible, written for and by a culture thousands of years ago, have any relevance for those of us today. Be assured that they do! Some good examples are found in the promises of God. The skeptic within reminds us that we are accustomed to seeing promises made and broken. But God’s Word is filled with His many promises that have not changed and will never be broken. God has promised to supply every need we have (Philippians 4:19). God has also promised that His grace is sufficient for us (II Corinthians 12:9) and that those who believe in Him shall have victory over death (I Corinthians 15:57). Paul also tells us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Whenever we find a promise in Scripture and cling to it in faith, God is pleased and faithful. The uniqueness of God’s promises are that they help us to submit to His will and to trust Him, “being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised” (Romans 4:21).
The Bible contains a great deal of relevant information. God’s Word will never be outdated, superseded, or improved upon. James L. Wilson said: “Cultures change. Churches change. Life changes. God doesn’t.” The Word of God is as applicable today as it was when it was first written. Not all of Scripture necessarily applies explicitly to us today, but all Scriptures contain truth that we can, and should, apply to our lives. They may have been written to an ancient society, but they were meant to inspire all generations. The Word of God comes to us not in the form of a dead book but rather as a living guide for each chapter in the journey we personally write every day.
REFLECTION: What do I value (and therefore find pertinent) in God’s many promises? If Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), how can I use this scripture to refute that Jesus’ teachings are not relevant in today’s culture? How does the Word of God meet the needs of modern man and society’s disregard for respecting others?
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