The Indestructible Word: God's Enduring Message to Humanity

Jeremiah 36

In a world where information is fleeting and trends come and go, there is one message that has stood the test of time - the Word of God. Despite countless attempts throughout history to erase, burn, or discredit it, the Bible remains a beacon of truth and hope for millions around the globe. This enduring quality of Scripture is not by chance, but by divine design.

The story of Jeremiah 36 provides a powerful illustration of the Bible's indestructibility. In this account, we find King Jehoiakim, a ruler of Judah, methodically cutting up and burning a scroll containing God's prophetic words. As each piece of parchment is tossed into the fire, the king believes he is silencing an unwelcome message. However, what follows is a testament to the resilience of God's Word.

Instead of being thwarted, God simply instructs Jeremiah to rewrite the scroll, adding even more content to it. This incident serves as a microcosm of the larger story of Scripture's preservation throughout the ages. Time and again, when men have tried to erase it, God has multiplied it.

This pattern has repeated itself throughout history. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, Emperor Diocletian ordered every Bible to be burned, believing he had extinguished the name of Christ. Yet within 25 years, the Roman Emperor Constantine was funding the production of Bibles. During the Middle Ages, authorities sought to destroy John Wycliffe's English translation, burning every handwritten copy they could find. Despite their efforts, Wycliffe's work survived and paved the way for future translations.

William Tyndale faced similar opposition, even paying with his life for translating the Bible into English. However, his dying prayer for God to open the King of England's eyes was answered when, shortly after his death, the King commissioned the printing of the Great Bible. Tyndale's work lives on, with about 80% of the King James Bible's wording coming from his translation.

Even the boasts of skeptics have fallen flat. The French atheist Voltaire once declared that within 100 years of his death, the Bible would be forgotten. Yet 50 years after his passing, his very house became the headquarters of the Geneva Bible Society, printing and distributing the very book he sought to discredit.

These accounts raise an important question: Why has God chosen to preserve His Word in this manner? Why not simply protect one original manuscript? The answer lies in God's wisdom and the nature of His message.

By allowing His Word to be copied, translated, and distributed widely, God has safeguarded it against corruption, idolatry, and destruction. No single person or power can control or alter the message when thousands of copies exist in different languages and regions. This vast manuscript tradition allows us to reconstruct the original text with remarkable accuracy.

Moreover, the widespread distribution of Scripture demonstrates God's desire for His message to reach all people. The Bible was never meant to be locked away in a temple or guarded by an elite few. Instead, it was designed to be shared, studied, and lived out by people of all backgrounds and cultures.

This brings us to a crucial point: the preservation of God's Word is not merely about maintaining an ancient text. It's about transforming lives. The Bible is not preserved simply to sit on shelves or be admired in museums. It is preserved so that people can hear its message, be convicted of their need for God, and find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The power of Scripture lies not in the physical pages or the ink, but in the living message it contains. As Isaiah 55:11 declares, "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." When we share God's Word with others, we are unleashing this transformative power into their lives.

This truth should both encourage and challenge us. On one hand, we can take comfort in knowing that God's Word will always accomplish its purpose, regardless of opposition or our own inadequacies. On the other hand, we are called to be active participants in sharing this message with the world around us.

Like Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe who was tasked with reading the prophecies to the people, we may feel hesitant or ill-equipped for this responsibility. We might worry about our reputation or fear rejection. However, God's response to Baruch's concerns is equally applicable to us today: "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them." Our focus should not be on our own comfort or status, but on faithfully sharing the message entrusted to us.

In a world that often seems chaotic and uncertain, the enduring nature of God's Word provides a solid foundation. It reminds us that there are truths that transcend time and culture, offering hope and guidance to every generation. As we encounter this living Word, we are invited to not only be hearers but also doers - allowing its message to transform our lives and sharing its truth with others.

The preservation and power of Scripture also point us to the ultimate living Word - Jesus Christ. Just as men tried to silence the written word but failed, so too did they attempt to silence Jesus through crucifixion. Yet, after three days, He rose from the grave, demonstrating that God's Word - both written and incarnate - cannot be silenced.

As we reflect on the indestructible nature of God's Word, may we be filled with awe at its enduring power. May we approach Scripture with reverence, knowing that we are encountering the very thoughts of God. And may we be compelled to share this life-giving message with others, confident that it has the power to transform lives, just as it has done for countless generations before us.

In a world of fleeting words and shallow ideas, let us cling to the eternal Word that offers life, hope, and salvation to all who receive it. For truly, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever" (Isaiah 40:8).