A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

I seem to remember a book belonging to one (or both) of my parents, entitled ‘What shall I tell them?’ I think it was a volume of ideas for sermons or Bible class talks- something of that nature. Maybe it was about preaching.

As I was coming towards the end of the series on ‘Hebrews’, I said to my wife, Jilly, ‘I have no idea where I am going next with these daily thoughts!’ (But I was, of course, praying about it.) ‘You’ll know,’ she said. I think it was that very same day that Isaiah 40 was impressed upon me. I still believe that ‘What shall I tell them?’ is an important starting point for every preacher (if He hasn’t already shown you!).

Have you noticed the emphasis, in the first part of chapter 40, on God speaking, and then people speaking what He has spoken? Look at verses 1,2,3,5,6-8,9-11. But don’t miss the priority of God’s Word. His speaking comes first.

‘What shall I tell them?’

The message in these verses concerns the transience of people and the permanence of God’s Word.

I remember exactly where I was when I first heard Sting’s song, ‘How fragile we are’. I was driving through Harehills, in Leeds, one dark morning, on my way to meet a friend for a run in Roundhay Park. Back then, in my mid-30’s, I already understood something of how frail we humans are, but today, in my mid-60’s, I know, and feel, it all the more.

James 4:14 says, ”What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

‘How fragile we are.’

But the good news is:

‘For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you.‘ (1 Peter 1:23-25).

The ”word” (i.e. the gospel) is no longer merely contrasted with our transience, but is, in fact, its cure.

”…whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17).

There are eternal consequences when we are born anew by ”the living and enduring word of God.” We can never truly die (John 11:25,26).

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for how your Word has changed, and is changing, my life. Thank you for your eternal life invading and filling mine.