Words of Life...

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:52 / Luke 19:45-20:26 / Psalm 48:9-14

In 1912, Cyril Evans was working as the telegraph operator on board the SS Californian on a voyage across the Atlantic. On the night of April 14 the Captain of the Californian brought the ship to a halt as it had entered a wide ice field with many large icebergs. Evans was ordered to warn the other ships in the area of the ice and he proceeded to send warnings to other ships in the area of the ice.

Evans ice warning message reached Jack Philips who was on the Titanic.  The radio connection was loud because the vessels were so close and because Evans had his set turned to full power, he almost blew the headset off Philip’s head.  Philips was so angry he told Evans to get off the radio and Philips never passed along the ice warning to the bridge or Captain.  A short time later the Titanic, heading at full steam, came upon the ice Evans tried to warn them about, struck an iceberg and sank killing over 1500 people.

Because of Philip’s angry and egotistical disposition, he dismissed Evan’s warning as annoying and meaningless.  Like Philips, many foolish decisions in life have been made due to pride, disrespect and anger. Israel was about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land and Moses recited a song to Israel recounting God’s faithfulness, commandments and instructions.  God was about to send a message to Israel that was loud and clear…it was not to be ignored.  Moses concluded by saying, “They are not just idle words for you – they are your life”  (Deuteronomy 32:47)

Israel was never to consider God’s Word as empty rhetoric.  They were not to treat God’s warnings as insincere or exaggerated.  God’s words were truth and they were the essence of their very life!  The word for “life” is associated with the health, prosperity and vitality that came from God.  Simply put, no God…no life! 

How true that is for our lives today.  The God, who “spoke” all things into existence, giving life to all things, is the author of life.  We live in a world today that seeks life and the fulfillment of life in all the wrong places.  Jesus declared Himself to be, “the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  Life is found in the Son, the Life Giver!

Unlike Israel, we must never dismiss or ignore God’s Word simply because it offends or restricts us.  We must hold God’s Word as infallible, anointed, precious and powerful.  He speaks life into our confusion and darkness.  God’s Word gives direction to our todays and to all our tomorrows.  God’s Words are eternally true and everyday proven. There was an advertising phrase used in the 1970’s by the most respected financial firm of several decades that went, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, everybody listens.”  E.F Hutton has nothing over on God!  Neither does Hollywood, Washington, Harvard; the brightest, best, powerful or most successful people and minds.  When God speaks…everybody better listen!