Impermanence versus Eternity

UV 717/10,000 Impermanence versus Eternity “ Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54 v 10 Even nature that seems permanent in our eyes is of a transient nature. Only God’s love is unchanging and unfailing. Everything else including the mountains and hills can be shaken and even removed, but the love of God cannot be shaken. It does not change and turn with circumstances. The mountains and hills are symbols and metaphors for seemingly powerful persons and authorities on the Earth. They are also the challenges and difficulties we face in our daily life. The Lord is the one unchanging Person in the whole universe. Everything else is subject to the throes of change. He is consistent and faithful to His promises to us and all succeeding generations of those who believe and trust in Him. As we cling on to the hope that His promises inspire in us, He will remove the mountains and hills. If He does not do that, He will climb it with us, step by step. He will give us the strength and stamina we need. To anchor means to go deep down into one's self and hold on to that which we value most. Everything else that men anchor themselves in whether it be wealth or power or glamour or pleasure, even though they seem to be rock-like at the moment, will be removed. The unchanging faithfulness of God is the attribute that enables us to anchor ourselves in Him, depend on Him and His covenant promises. His covenant or personal relationship with us cannot be amended or rescinded or influenced. When we are reconciled with God, we have everlasting peace in our hearts. That peace will permeate our minds and all that we do and all with whom we interact or relate. He made us out of mud but breathed His spirit of compassion and love into us that distinguishes us from all other creatures. Our earthiness is pitted against His eternal nature. Our selfishness against His love. Our pettiness against His compassion. Our strife against His peace. The covenant contained in His Word keeps telling us, “ Stop struggling on your own strength. Stop striving with Your Creator God as Israel wrestled with Him. Instead, surrender to His love and compassion.” New age philosophers and teachers talk about mindfulness. It is a purposeless mindfulness where they are always conscious of their own inner life. Instead, we must be always mindful of the love, peace and compassion of God. These are the dominant themes of the Word and of our relationship with the Creator-Saviour. Love and peace of God are like the equipment that a mountaineer uses to hold in his two hands that enable him to grip the treacherous mountain trail as he climbs upwards. Prateep V Philip