Life in the Word 151 the two there is a great gulf, which only divine power can span; for it is only the living God who can impart life to that which is lifeless. We look then at the Written Word of God to see if it manifests characteristics which are found only in living things, and to see if it exhibits, not merely the possession of life of the perishable and corruptible sort with which we are so familiar by observation, and which is in each of us, but life of a different order, imperishable and incorruptible. ■ III. PERENNIAL FRESHNESS The Bible differs radically from all other books in its per petual freshness. This characteristic will be recognized only by those who know the Book in that intimate way which comes from living with it, as with a member of one’s family. I men tion it first because it was one of the first unique properties of the Bible which impressed me after I began to read it as a be liever in Christ. It is a very remarkable fact that the Bible never becomes exhausted, never acquires sameness, never diminishes in its power of responsiveness to the quickened soul who comes to it. The most familiar passages yield as much (if not more) refreshment at the thousandth perusal, as at the first. It is indeed as a fountain of living water. The fountain is the same, but the water is always fresh, and always refresh ing. We can compare this to nothing but what we find in a living companion, whom we love and to whom we go for help and fellowship. The person is always the same, and yet with out sameness. New conditions evoke new responses; and so it is with the Bible. As a living Book it adapts itself to the new phases of our experience and the new conditions in which we find ourselves. From the most familiar passage there comes again and again a new message; just as our most familiar friend or companion livill have something new to say, as changed conditions and new situations require it from time to time.
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