Five-Year Half-Life
In reading a medical article some time back, I came across an expression that has caused a lot of reflection – “five-year half-life.” The author of the article explained the phrase that “in medical science every five years half the things we now claim are true are proven false and they are replaced by new theories.” A five-year half-life!
Living life and coping with its many problems and distractions and preparing for eternity requires truth. The Bible is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), is truth (John 8:32; 17:17) and is everlasting (1 Peter 1:25). The Bible is all-sufficient (2 Timothy 3:17), builds us up and promises an inheritance to those who obey (Acts 20:32) and will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). The Bible is not a five-year half-life book. IT IS ETERNAL!
Consider some of the eternal truths found in our Bible and rejoice that they are not five-year half-life.
God’s Existence. God has always been, is and always will be. The Godhead created the heavens and Earth (Genesis 1:1). Man was created in the image and likeness of the Godhead (Genesis 1:26-27). Man’s creation, which is the apex of all creation, is simple and sublime. This is truth, not a five-year half-life.
God’s LOVE and GRACE. Men’s sins and iniquities separate him from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) causing him to fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:10, 23) and throws us into a state of lostness (Romans 6:23). When we sinned and stood both hopeless and helpless in God’s sight, God’s love was shown to man. He sent Christ, His only begotten Son (John 3:16), to die for us (Romans 5:8-9). This is described as salvation and grace, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). Salvation involves God’s grace and man’s obedience. This is truth, not a five-year half-life.
God’s BOOK. There is no book comparable to the Bible. Absolutely none! It is God’s message of salvation and life to sinful man. We can read and understand what to do to be saved and how to live a life pleasing to God. We can trust what He has revealed to be true. “All his commandments are righteous” (Psalm 119:172) and truth (John 8:32). We are not to tamper with the Bible by adding to nor subtracting from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 21:18-19). This is truth, not a five-year half-life.
God’s JUDGMENT DAY. The heavens and Earth created by God (Genesis 1:1) will someday, in God’s timetable, be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-14). At this time God will “judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:31). The judge will use the word of God (John 12:48). This is truth, not a five-year half-life.
The apostle Paul admonished, “Let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou judged” (Romans 3:4). God’s words are eternal, not a five-year half-life. Be thankful!