There is a phrase that goes, “Nothing lasts forever.”

It’s a nice phrase that happens to be false.

The correct way to express the sentiment is, “Few things last forever.”

Many, many, many things are not eternal.

A partial list includes:

• Eyesight
• Bowls of ice cream
• Respect for politicians
• Focused thought
• Beer keg at a frat house

But some things ARE immortal.

At the top of the ‘Eternal Things List’ is the truth.

The truth never expires.

Truth is valid even when the source is an ancient book.

That’s stupid, John! The truth changes all the time!

Give me an example of a truth that has changed.

Slavery! Ha!

Slavery hasn’t changed for centuries.

Yes it has!  It’s illegal!

Oh. You’re talking about the laws regarding slavery.

YES!  I got ya!

Why did the laws change?

Because it’s wrong to oppress people! Slavery is oppression!

Is it always wrong to oppress people?

Are you stupid?  Of course it’s always wrong!

So slavery is eternally wrong?

Yes! Slavery is eter…wait. Oh…I get what you’re saying…”

Cultural norms and laws change because they aren’t always rooted in truth.

I said I get it! Shut up already!

And I will shut up.

…pretty soon.

Christian people, hear this:

The Bible cannot be dismissed simply because it’s ‘old’.

The ancientness of the text has no bearing on whether or not it’s true.

Here is a partial list of scriptural truth:

• honor your parents
• return good for evil
• put others before yourself
• respect authority
• help the helpless

None of these ideas will be ‘wrong’ in a few millennium.

Because they are true.

And the truth doesn’t age.

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,
“People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23