In the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter40, verses 6b to 8, we read, "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever."

These are God's words, given directly to the prophet Isaiah by God when Isaiah asked God for the right words to speak. God has very clearly told us that His Word will never be out of date. Paul tells us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that all scripture is God-inspired and therefore useful. (IITimothy 3:16,17) Jesus often quoted scripture that was written years before He walked the earth. With His divine wisdom, He would never have quoted something that was out of date or that no longer applied.

In our modern age, however, it is easy to leave out certain parts of the Bible because we think they just do not apply any more. We suppose they were written to the people of the day to fit in with their customs, or to explain things that were impossible to understand without the benefit of modern science. We may conclude that some of the things that were included in the Apostolic writings only applied to that time.

But wait... If we start taking out certain parts of the Bible, where do we draw the line? How do we, in our wisdom, determine what to live by, if we do not have a Bible that applies to our time?

The answer is that we must accept the Bible in its entirety
as being the Word of God, word for word, with nothing left out. God says that His Word stands forever. Jesus said God's Word stands forever (Matthew 5:18). Jesus said His Word stands forever (Matt24:35). Paul also said that all scripture is inspired by God, meaning placed into the mind of the writers by God, and profitable (meaning useful) "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."(2Timothy3:16,17).

Throughout the Bible, the Word of God is said to last forever, and there are many warnings about taking away from the Word, yet many Christians today are guilty of leaving out, ignoring, or not accepting as valid today, certain parts of the Holy Bible. However, when we come across something in the Scriptures that is difficult for us to accept, we must not pass over it; instead we must stop, pray for guidance, and not leave that portion of Scripture until we know what God is saying to us today. God is speaking to us now through ALL His Word, and He will make all His Word fresh, valid, and alive to us if we earnestly seek Him.

"FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART." HEBREWS 4:12