Did You Know those science textbooks written forty or fifty years ago are obsolete? That some medical books written less than ten years ago are out of date? And that many technical manuals need supplemental information added to them by the time they are released to the public?
Did You Know that as a result of the recent space probes, scientists are having to “start from scratch” as concerns a major part of their information about Mars, Venus, and other planets? Virtually all their previous theories have “disintegrated”!
Did You Know that the laws of our states and nation have to continually be updated and revised? Just think of the multitude of constitutional amendments alone!
Did You Know that the rules/laws/guidelines of all man-made religious bodies undergo periodic examination and change as the governing bodies decide the need…sometimes annually?
But most important, Did You Know that the law of the Lord NEVER changes, nor does it need to be changed or revised? “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psa. 19:7). Let me emphasize: a perfect Being gave a perfect law to sinful man (Rom. 3:23), that he (man) might become like Him (God) cf. Matthew 5:48.
But man, thinking God is like man (or seeking to make Him so), attempts to make God’s law conform to his own (man’s) likes and dislikes. The imperfect seeking to lead the Perfect! Lowly man presuming to advise the Almighty Creator (Rom. 11:34)! How sad a picture. It would seem that man, having to discard so many theories, rewrite so many books, as knowledge grows and expands on his part, and having to make and remake new laws by which to be governed, would see the folly of tampering with the “perfect law of liberty” (Jam. 1:25).
God told Israel: “…Thou thought that I was altogether such as one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes…” (Psa. 50:21) ~ and He did it! Tampering with that which is perfect will result in everlasting grief (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Num. 22:18; 24:13; Pro. 30:6; Matt. 25:46; 1 Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 John 9; Rev. 22:18-19). Obeying that which is perfect will result in everlasting life (Matt. 25:49; Heb. 5:8-9).
*** Jots from Jess ***
I am indebted to my good friend and brother, Lyndal Werner, for sharing this article. Jay Farber and his wife Mary were good friends to us for many years. We met at the old Elk City School of Preaching (director, the late brother Bill Craig). He and Mary worshipped with us at the Cheyenne church of Christ many years later. I got to sit at his feet and learn during that time. Oh, how we enjoyed his “catfish dinners”!
Jay A. Farber (deceased)