Mark 13:24-32 

Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. 

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” 

“My Words will not pass away” 

There is no more reassuring line in the Bible than this. When you think about it, the whole Bible, which is God’s word, is held up by Jesus here. Christians believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word, but here Jesus tells us that more than that. He tells us that his words are eternal. 

What are you basing your life on? Many people rely on themselves, their abilities, their strengths, their ideas. Other people rely on something external, like money, or a career. Some people rely on other people, their parents, spouses, children, or friends. Now all of these are good things. But all of them will let you down. Your personal attributes, your money, even the people close to you, may not always be there. 

Why do people find themselves so reliant on these ordinary things or people? All of us tend to rely on what we find close at hand. The things we are most familiar with, present themselves as the only available options. It really does make sense, but what choice do we have? Are there any other options? What lies beyond the familiar things? 

God does. God is our Creator. He is in eternity, and nothing exists without his holding it being. All the things and people we rely on are actually based in God. God is the foundation for the whole universe. So it makes sense to rely on God above all. But this leads to another question: How can we rely on God whom we cannot sense or see? 

God has given his words to live by. What should you believe? How should you live? What should you hope for? The answer God gives us is the Bible. When Jesus talks to his disciples about the end of the world, he describes tribulation, the skies falling, the powers shaken. He adds that no one knows when the end will come. But Jesus gives us something to hang onto in the middle of all of the ups and downs of our own lives, and our times. 

The Bible as the word of God answers all of life’s big questions. We hear about God and his saving plan, about Jesus our Saviour, and about the Holy Spirit, who breathes new life into us, making us children of God. The Bible tells us how to live, from the Ten Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount. The Bible promises us eternal life through faith in Jesus. Our past, our present, and our future are revealed here: we discover that we are in God’s hands. But the choice is still yours. If you want the peace and joy that only God can give you, you are invited to base your life on God’s word, the Bible. Everything and everyone you know will pass away. Death hangs over us all. The most solid of rocks, the brightest of stars, the greatest of leaders, will crumble, fade, and be forgotten. God’s word alone will never pass away, and we can count on that. How can we respond? Say “Yes” to God, to his Son, Jesus, and to a life founded on his word.