Isaiah 55:11 is a familiar verse and many of us know it by heart, it says
“So shall my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void without accomplishing what I desire but shall accomplish that for which I have sent it.”
We post-modern’s struggle to come to terms with the uniqueness of God’s word because we have no category in our human experience that quite fits. Marketing claims often amount to hyperbole, and the promises of people often fail but God’s word is not only faithful, but also potent because of the One who has spoken it. If I say to you tomorrow I will make some changes in this country, I think I will eliminate all income taxes….would you believe me? Despite how well meaning he may be, would you believe Ron Paul?
I believe that it is true of both of us that our words would return to us void, empty, because we don’t have the power to back them up, We dont have the authority. The President does not have that authority. If God however says “the soul that sins, it shall die”, He has sufficient power to back that word up. And, when He promises “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He has the authority and power to back that up as well. When He then says “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” we would be very foolish to ignore Him.
How powerful is His word? In Jeremiah 23:29 it says “Is not My word like fire? declares the Lord, and like a hammer which shatters a rock?” God’s word, like a fire, is powerful enough to burn the dross out of a believer’s life just as the burning bush burned with God’s fire before Moses without being consumed. God’s word is powerful enough to crush all resistence and shatter either the unbelief or tragically, the unbeliever. God’s word can penetrate the stoniest heart and transform the life of the worst reprobate.
A young Charles Spurgeon was converted while listening to a very poorly educated, simple preacher speaking from God’s word in a small Methodist chapel on a snowy cold day. The text was “look unto me and be ye saved” As the preacher’s gaze caught that of young Charles Spurgeon, he said, “Young man, you look very miserable. Look to Jesus Christ: look now.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon did look and right then and there, was saved.
