Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
There’s lots of interest in longevity today, both among popular gurus who promise that their secret will help you live longer, and also among serious scientists whose studies of aging suggest that human beings can live much longer than we do today. But, in the end, we will not last forever. Jesus claims that his words, however, will never pass away. When we embrace his teaching, we enter a life that is not only everlasting but also rich with meaning and full of love. True longevity is found in Jesus.
Many people yearn to live long lives (as long as they are healthy and strong). Pop culture gurus are eager to tell you how to accomplish this as they promote their particular lifestyle options. But serious researchers are also digging deeper into the factors that might lead to longer and better living. The Stanford Center on Longevity, for example, seeks “to accelerate and implement scientific discoveries, technological advances, behavioral practices, and social norms so that century-long lives are healthy and rewarding.”
Advances in medical science, nutrition, and healthy living make the possibility of a longer life increasing likely. David Sinclair, co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School observed, “Over the last ten years, my lab and many others around the world have shown that it’s not just possible to delay aging but to reverse aspects of it. The first person to live to 150 has already been born. And, it’s not crazy to say that anymore. It used to be, 10 years ago.” But even if we are able to live much longer and, I hope, much better lives, we will still not be immortal.
In Luke 21:33 Jesus noted that “Heaven and earth will pass away.” When God’s new creation comes, there will be a radical transformation of all things. Heaven and earth as we know them today will be no more. We who are earthly beings will also pass away. There are limits to human longevity. But, Jesus added, “But my words will not pass away.” We who know Jesus as truly God and truly human are not shocked by this statement. But I expect even some of his disciples might have raised an eyebrow in wonder. Who is this man who believes his words will outlast the universe? He’s either crazy, a world-class narcissist, or a man who is much, much more than just a man.
Today, we’re reminded of the true longevity of Jesus’s words. They will outlast the whole cosmos. Thus, we’re encouraged to hear them, study them, know them, take them to heart, and hang on to them for dear life. In a day when so much is changing, when so much feels temporary, we need something that will last to give solidness and meaning to our lives. The words of Jesus are just what we need.
Of course, we pay attention to Jesus’s words, not only because they are everlasting, but also because they are utterly life-giving. You may recall a scene from the Gospel of John in which many of Jesus’s disciples deserted him. He asked those who were left, “Do you also wish to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-67). Notice that Jesus’s words are not just enduring by themselves, but also the way we come to know eternal life, the abundant life of the age to come. We will experience true longevity when we embrace the everlasting words of Jesus.
Comments