It Never Changes

Psalm 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, your

word is fixed in heaven.

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all

generations: thou hast established the

earth, and it abideth.

91 They continue this day according to

thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.


I have to admit that I like the book of
Jeremiah. The language and metphors are
less complicated. One of my all time
favorite books is Daniel. So far, there
has not been a post from the book of Daniel
on the Jesus Bus. Others have written alot
on the book of Daniel. It is one
ancient hebrew text -- Old Testament --
that spends some time describing the end of
days. But it's not the passages about the
end of days that is as interesting as the
description of the way that the king of
Babylon lived in those days. It offers a
view of life that, at least in my mind,
shows how even though some things change,
the nature of man has not changed at all.
History repeats, or at least it ryhmes,
because the nature of man does not change.
The larger implication is that not only is
the nature of man unchanging, but the
nature of G-d is unchanging. The laws that
govern the universe, or as the sacred text
sometimes puts it, the 'covenants'
of the universe are established forever.
There is design and purpose in the
universe. Daniel, was the man in Babylon.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with

them that fear him; and he will show them

his COVENANT.

Psalm 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant

for ever, the word which he commanded to a

thousand generations.


In the verses above, the word translated
'word' is not the same as the word
translated 'covenant', or the word
translated 'law'. The words have different
translations and the specific meaning of
each word is different. It's the sort of
thing that allows endless scholarly
discussion, about the fine points of the
text. But taking from verse 89, the idea
is clear that what has been ordered by G-d,
is certain. His word is certain, His
law is certain, and His covenant is
certain. There need be no guessing about
whether or not we ought to believe what
G-d has revealed about himself. We are
surrounded by evidence of the rule of law
in the universe. It's not random action.
We are surrounded by predictability. In
fact, if routine is absent, many folks will
structure their own routine as best they
can.


There was a news story that caught my eye
this week in Yahoo news:

'Spouses Who Fight Live Longer'

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/2008012
3/sc_livescience/spouseswhofightlivelonger

Of course, my first thought was about the
joke -- they don't live longer, it just
seems longer. There are times, when you
are in a standoff, that even the minutes
drag on like days -- forever. Yeah. It
just seems longer. Where do they get this
stuff? Here's a quote:
--->
usually the couple is ignorant about the
process of resolving conflict."
So while conflict is inevitable, the
critical matter is how couples resolve it.
"The key matter is, when the conflict
happens, how do you resolve it?" Harburg
said.
--->

With all respect, I offer the observation
that not every conflict has a resolution.
In any case, since marriage is a covenant,
it's till death do us part. I've found
that acceptance is probably a better plan
than resolution. Why? People are loathe
to change. Accept it.


There is a higher order in scripture. The
key is love. It's not a really popular
doctrine these days. Here's a comment by
Coffman:
--->
Barclay said, "For many, this is the most
wonderful chapter in the New Testament";
but as McGarvey said, "It has been admired
by all ages, but, unfortunately, practiced
by none!"
--->

I Cor 13:4 Love is patient and is kind;

love doesn`t envy. Love doesn`t brag, is

not proud,

5 doesn`t behave itself inappropriately,

doesn`t seek its own way, is not provoked,

takes no account of evil;

6 doesn`t rejoice in unrighteousness, but

rejoices with the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

In this description of love there is no
room for self serving motives -- 'doesn't
seek its own way'. It doesn't dwell on
conflict resolution. It dwells on doing
for others what is best for them, without
anticipation of any recognition or reward
for your effort. No wonder it hasn't been
practiced, only admired.


Even on the Jesus Bus, there is room for
change on our part. Fortunatly, we serve
a G-d whose love never changes. It's not
because we deserve it, it's because it's
His nature.

I John 4:8 He who doesn`t love doesn`t know

G-d, for G-d is love.


Love is the essence of G-d's nature. It's
written all over the New Testament. Yet,
it's impossible for us, in our fallen
nature to fully comprehend the Divine
Nature. On the Jesus Bus, we accept it by
faith. It is the basis of our salvation.


John 3:16 For G-d so loved the world, that

he gave his one and only Son, that whoever

believes in him should not perish, but have

eternal life.

17 For G-d didn`t send his Son into the

world to judge the world, but that the

world should be saved through him.

18 He who believes in him is not judged. He

who doesn`t believe has been judged

already, because he has not believed in the

name of the only born Son of G-d.


It's good to know that some things never
change. Get on the bus.