What is a “constant”? A constant may be defined as something that is unchanging or invariable.
Here’s a lyric we’ve adapted that celebrates the “constant of all constants,” an amazing book that in the photo you see uniting Karen and me as our hands hold it:
The Bible Stands by Haldor Lillenas
The Bible stands like a rock undaunted ’mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal, and they glow with a light sublime.The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
We will plant our feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.The Bible stands like a mountain towering far above the works of man;
Its truth by none ever was refuted, and destroy it they never can.The Bible stands every test we give it, for its Author is divine;
By grace alone we expect to live it, and to prove and to make it ours.
Our friend, Gail Good recently gave us the book He That Is Spiritual, a classic study by Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer on the biblical doctrine of spirituality. Wow! In Dr. Chafer’s typical style, the pages are saturated with Scriptural foundations and specific apropos biblical references. I’ve been reading a few pages at a time and have been red-pen underlining as I go. Not only are the teachings providing a sound, interesting review of genuinely biblical pneumatology, but they are filling me with thanksgiving for the “constant” written word of God that “stands like a rock undaunted ‘mid the raging storms of time” and that unites Karen and me with a marriage that only the Lord Jesus Christ could build.
By the way, in the photo above the Bible is opened to our personal marriage-theme verse, Psalm 48:14.
Now to the contest…
Recently at one of our monthly YLG (Youth Leadership Group) meetings in Conrad, sister and brother Brittney and Dustin Steele of Valier showed up with their written work on an extra-credit challenge involving the chapter and verse location of many, many quotes in Basic Christianity by John Stott. Way to go, Brittney and Dustin! You will each be receiving a little prize. Well, now here’s the contest for this blog entry:
The quotes which follow are related to the Bible as the constant of all constants, as that which “stands like a mountain towering far above the works of man.” A prize will be awarded to the first person who responds in the comments section below with the correct book, chapter, and verse references for all seven quotes.
In my research and meditations I generally use the New American Standard Bible, but because the King James Version (KJV) is usually more readily available for internet or concordance searches, the quotes are drawn from the KJV.
1. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
2. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night….”
3. “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.”
4. “All Scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….”
5. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
6. “Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee and thou be found a liar.”
7. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Karen and I are excited to see who will be the first correct responder!
May you know the Lord’s peace and joy today and always.
Love from the Nicolsons
Update: This contest is now over. Congratulations to the winner, Trent Zempel!
