Matthew 24:29-35: a reflection

29“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 32“Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. 34Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

As Jesus speaks of the shaking of the heavens and the passing away of all things at the end, he makes a striking claim about the permanence of his own words: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Everything in the created order, the sun and moon and stars, the heavens and the earth themselves, will one day pass away; but Christ's words will not. They are more permanent than the created order, outlasting heaven and earth. What Christ has said stands sure, enduring when everything else has passed; his words are a more lasting foundation than the very heavens and earth.

Notice the permanence Christ claims for his words: they will not pass away, though heaven and earth will. The created order, which seems so solid and permanent, the heavens and the earth, will pass away; but Christ's words will not. They outlast the very heavens and earth; they are more enduring, more permanent, than the created order itself. What Christ has said is not fleeting, not subject to passing away like all created things; it stands sure and enduring forever. His words are a foundation more lasting than heaven and earth, sure when everything else has passed. Nothing in creation is as permanent as the words of Christ, which will not pass away.

That is worth resting in, for Christ's words are a sure and enduring foundation, more permanent than heaven and earth. We can build our lives on things that seem solid and permanent but will pass away; but Christ's words will not pass away, outlasting the very heavens and earth. His words are a foundation more lasting than anything in creation, sure and enduring, to be relied on when everything else fails. Build your life on the words of Christ, which will not pass away, rather than on the things of this world, which will; his words are a surer foundation than heaven and earth. Rely on the words of Christ as a sure and enduring foundation, more permanent than heaven and earth, which will pass away while his words do not, as Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away; for nothing in creation is as lasting as the words of Christ, and we do well to build our lives on them rather than on things that will pass.

Lord Jesus, as you speak of the shaking of the heavens and the passing away of all things at the end, you make a striking claim about the permanence of your own words: heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Everything in the created order, the sun and moon and stars, the heavens and the earth themselves, will one day pass away; but your words will not. They are more permanent than the created order, outlasting heaven and earth. What you have said stands sure. Show me the permanence you claim for your words: they will not pass away, though heaven and earth will. The created order, which seems so solid and permanent, will pass away; but your words will not. They outlast the very heavens and earth; they are more enduring than the created order itself. What you have said is not fleeting, not subject to passing away like all created things; it stands sure and enduring forever. Nothing in creation is as permanent as your words. Let me rest in that, for your words are a sure and enduring foundation, more permanent than heaven and earth. I can build my life on things that seem solid and permanent but will pass away; but your words will not pass away. Your words are a foundation more lasting than anything in creation, to be relied on when everything else fails. Help me build my life on your words, Lord, which will not pass away, rather than on the things of this world, which will; and help me rely on your words as a sure and enduring foundation, more permanent than heaven and earth.