And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:17).
With this text sacred memories of childhood overcome me. Sweet worship on Sabbath eve in our home, the reading from the great family Bible as only Father could read it--or Mother, when he was away--the prayers all around, and then the song "Abide with me." Especially impressive was the second verse:
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earths joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
__Henry F. Lyte
Everything human changes, fades, passes away. We return to the old home and find only strangers. A few more years, and "he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more" (Job 7:10).
There is a text that infidels as well as Christians believe. It is Psalm 103:15, 16: "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."
Truly the world with its desires is a passing show, "but"--what a word of promise that is here--"but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." And the will of God is love.
The earth itself may change, but God is eternal and so is His love. "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy of thee" (Isa. 54:10). So, amid the changing scenes about us, we may say, "Now abideth faith, hope, love" (1 Cor. 13:13, ARV).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations" (Ps. 135:13).
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:17).
With this text sacred memories of childhood overcome me. Sweet worship on Sabbath eve in our home, the reading from the great family Bible as only Father could read it--or Mother, when he was away--the prayers all around, and then the song "Abide with me." Especially impressive was the second verse:
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earths joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
__Henry F. Lyte
Everything human changes, fades, passes away. We return to the old home and find only strangers. A few more years, and "he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more" (Job 7:10).
There is a text that infidels as well as Christians believe. It is Psalm 103:15, 16: "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."
Truly the world with its desires is a passing show, "but"--what a word of promise that is here--"but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." And the will of God is love.
The earth itself may change, but God is eternal and so is His love. "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy of thee" (Isa. 54:10). So, amid the changing scenes about us, we may say, "Now abideth faith, hope, love" (1 Cor. 13:13, ARV).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations" (Ps. 135:13).
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