Have you ever been looking back over old photographs or yearbooks and wondered, “What was I thinking?”
I think all of us who are over thirty have been there; done that.
It’s funny how the outfit or hairstyle that we thought was the “most rad thing every” (because that’s how we talked back then) is now laughable. Not all styles are timeless.
I read once that knowing this, when they filmed the classic movie, “You’ve Got Mail”, the costumers were very careful to only choose timeless pieces of clothing for Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. They wanted to ensure that no matter when this movie was watched, the clothing would always be classic.
Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the movie is still tragically dated. Whenever I hear the sound of that dial up internet I think, “This movie is so old.” Not to mention that in 2023, Meg Ryan would have immediately googled the guy who was shutting her down and known exactly what he looked like.
So while, yeah, it’s still a great movie, the drama in this plot no longer rings true with the passage of time. It is not timeless.
This is one of the arguments that many in Progressive Christianity give to invalidate the teachings they don’t like in the Bible. They say the Bible is outdated.
They say, “You can’t possibly expect me to base my life on the teachings of an ancient document! That book is outdated! We’ve evolved as a human race and now we are move enlightened. There’s no way the teachings in the Bible can be applied today.”
Sadly, these lies are leading many people away from God, salvation, and an eternity in Heaven.
The fact is that the teachings in the Bible are timeless because the state of the human condition is timeless.
Although circumstances, methods of doing things and technology may have changed, the human condition has not.
All men are still born sinners.
Every inclination of every man’s heart is to sin and rebel against God.
Because of sin, all men are in need of a Savior.
Throughout time and eternity, the Bible shows us how we can experience salvation, have a personal relationship with God, and spend eternity in Heaven. That never changes. The plan of salvation is timeless.
Beyond salvation, the Bible teaches us how we can live our lives according to God’s will. This is important because as the Creator, God knows how the world works. He understands the best way to live in the world He created. Because He loves us, He told us the secrets of His universe in His Word. It’s like an inventor writing an owner’s manual. When we read and obey the Bible, we are following the Creator’s instructions. This leads to our lives being blessed.
“Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” ” (Luke 11:28, NLT)
When we ignore God’s instructions or warnings, we experience the painful consequences of our sins. (Galatians 6:7-8)
Because these “directions” for the universe do not change, so the Word of God does not change. They are practically applicable at all times.
No matter how the culture changes, the God’s Word remains the same. It is timeless. When we base our lives on the truth’s of the Bible, we are building our lives on a secure foundation.
"The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Psalm 119:160, ESV)"
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry."
