God's Love Endures Forever!

What Lasts Forever?

I remember when I was a young boy, I dreamed of owning my first computer. I did my research and found that the Commodore 64 was the best one on the market at that time but was awfully expensive! I tried to convince my mom and dad that the computer would not only make an excellent Christmas gift but would also further my education. Looking back, I now realize the awkward and slightly humiliating situation I had put my parents in for they had to sit me down and explain that we were a poor family and as such food, shelter and clothing came first! They did not say “NO” but instead stated that I would have to save up and buy the computer myself. I saved every last penny I got from my paper route but after months of saving I soon realized it would be years before I would have enough to make such a grand purchase so I talked my brothers into splitting the costs. How we loved playing games, programming and occasionally fighting over that computer! Then one day the printer stopped working and it was too much money to get it fixed, so we stopped printing out programs, pictures, and puzzles. Then the tape drive started to “eat” tapes so many programs and games could no longer be loaded and played. I can still remember the gloomy day when that Commodore 64 refused to “boot up” and me and my brothers hard-earned dollars went down the drain!

Now that I am much older and hopefully a little wiser, I am starting to realize the depth of what Jesus meant when He said that the grass is here today and gone tomorrow (Matthew 6:30)! Like my Commodore 64 nothing in this world seems to last! Whom amongst us does not cringe every time a major appliance breaks because we know a new one will cost more money and last half as long as our old one? We work long hours, scrimp, and save only to find our naps, weekends, vacation times, cars and homes have expiry dates that approach quicker than the speed of light! Even in a world where everyone is interconnected with vast populations at the click of a few buttons; one finds that friendships, marriages, and family connections are in a constant flux of beginning and ending at a moment’s notice! And when it comes to our health who amongst us “older” ones cannot look back at a time when we had more hair, strong backs and muscles, quicker minds, and never-ending energy? This kind of thinking often results in many of this world to falsely conclude that nothing lasts forever and therefore life itself has little meaning. “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we all die,” is the bleak slogan of many nonbelievers in this world! The following sermon is going to explore Psalms 136 to encourage us to “give thanks” that while the temporal things of this world will “pass away” … God’s love lasts forever!

Give Thanks for God is our Lord (verses 1-3)

Psalms 136, a popular hymn amongst the Lord’s ancient people called the Great Hallel, was a song of thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love that endures forever! God is good for His mighty acts demonstrate His undying hesed to remain in a covenant relationship with His people despite their sins and rebellion. God stands against and separate from the powers and temporal nature of this world because He is omnipotent and eternal. If there are any other beings either in heaven or on earth that people deem worthy to be called a god, God is infinitely more worthy for these imitations of deity merely get their dominion, authority and their existence from Him! While living on this earth it might appear like all things are vanity because they only last a short period of time, when one takes into consideration the unseen reality around us then there is much to rejoice about! Our souls for instance are eternal (Ecclesiastes 12:7) and for those who refuse to bow their knees to idols made by hands but instead to the one, only true God, they alone will be adopted by He who is merciful and gracious in His acts of creation and redemption. Since God’s love endures forever, our praise, thanksgiving and submission to Him as our Lord should never be silent (Psalms 113:3)!”

Give Thanks God is our Creator (verses 4-9)

Give thanks for God alone is to be praised for the “great wonders” and is our Divine King! From the mightiest of mountains to microscopic life, from the heavens to the depths of the seas, all of creation testifies to the eternal power and majesty of our God (Romans 1:20)! God “held back the chaotic waters” (Psalms 93:3-4), separated light from darkness (Genesis 1:3), created us in His image (Genesis 1:27) and crowned us a little lower than the angels (Psalms 8:5)! While the false gods of this world are powerless to do anything, day after day all of creation pours forth speech and reveals the truth that God alone is our Creator, sustainer, and redeemer! His handiwork can be seen in the heavens for the great lights of the sun, moon and stars never stop testifying to His omnipotent power and saving grace. Let us praise God for the new mercies we receive every morning, for the bread we eat, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the air we breathe and especially for all the times He has healed our bodies, minds and souls! Instead of bowing down and worshipping creation like the heathen do by chasing after the things that are here today and gone tomorrow, let us take delight and responsibly take care of creation, a wonderful signpost of God’s mercy and majesty and truly be thankful!