It has always been my argument that we should go to the source to find the answers we
need in life. If I want to know about creation, I go to God, not scientists or theologians. If I want to know what is beyond the grave, I go to God, not some ego induced Hollywood personality. If I want to know about anything, God will tell me what I need to know in His Word, the Bible. It is the only source that can be depended upon 100%.
About 4 ½ years ago I wrote a song simply called “The Book” referring to the only book, the Bible. It is as follows:
How does God speak to us in the days we're living in
Is it through a mighty storm or the gusting of the wind
Does He use the mouth of others or a feeling we once knew
Or does He simply use His Word He gave us by the Jew
Why do we listen for God in all those other places
When we can always find Him in the Bible's pages
Why is His Word sometimes the last place we go
When in the pages of His Word is all we need to know
It's really not a mystery that He's trying to hide
He made it very clear that in His Word we abide
Other things are gimmicks and not the way to go
Only in the Word of God can we ever grow
CHORUS:
The Book has long been finished and now it should be read
To really hear from God and know just what He said
It's the one true way to listen to our Lord
It's the Living Word and the mighty Sword
It astounds me that even Christians will go to other sources to get the “facts.” They read a book some man or woman wrote. They watch a documentary on television. They form their own opinion from how “they” think things should be.
I appreciate those who are reading this article, but don’t use me as a barometer. I would never write anything that I don’t very strongly believe, but I am not the final authority. Use me only as a spring board to the final authority, the Word of God, the Bible. Anyone who writes for the glory of Jesus will say the same. If any proclaim not the same Gospel that Jesus gave the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles, then as Paul would say, “Let him be accursed.”
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:8-10)
For many centuries the common man did not have the written Word of God since there were no printing presses and later because the “church” of that time would not allow anyone but the priesthood to have a copy. Today, the Bible can be in the hands of anyone, except those who live in dictatorial nations where it is banned, but even yet, brave Christians try to get the Bible to those too.
Here is the dilemma. In this country, not to mention others, ignorance of God’s Word knows no bounds. A Bible can be had by ANYONE. It can be read without fear of the Bible police knocking on your door and hauling you off to prison … so far.
We call this period of time the “enlightened age,” but are we really? Knowledge knows no bounds in every area, except where it involves the knowledge of the Bible. Christians today should be the most enlightened group of people of any age prior to us concerning the Word of God, but the opposite is true.
I wonder if I have offended any Christians yet. I hope I have, to the point of your getting in the Word, and actually reading and studying it on a daily basis. I can just hear some Christians now, “How dare you!” Those with that attitude will be the very ones who would have to blow the dust off their Bible, if they can find it, in order to pick it up and read it. Those who actually do read and study it daily know exactly where I’m coming from.
Why are there so many different “opinions” about spiritual matters? I’ll tell you why. They are just that. They are “opinions” formed from the mind of man instead of the Truth obtained from God’s Word.
To know the Word of God requires effort. A casual reading is good, but not what God has in mind for the Church. He said through the Apostle Paul,
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
To study the Bible takes effort, a lot of it, and that is what the Lord expects from us. However, if one is lazy, he/she is too sorry to actually study the Word.
Wrong conclusions can be developed even from casual reading. This is why some Christians are “so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good.” They are those who open their mouth but have nothing to say. Oh, they think they do, but nothing comes forth but worldly claptrap.
I see three types of Christians in this age of apostasy, the Laodicean age, (1) those who don’t read the Word, (2) those who read just enough to not know what they’re talking about, and (3) those who actually obey 2 Timothy 2:15. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it is exasperating trying to get Christians, of all people, to get serious about really knowing God’s Word. I’ve even heard preachers proclaim, in their ignorance, that “Bible study is not necessary. We need to concentrate on getting people saved.” That has got to be one of the most asinine remarks I have ever heard coming from the pulpit.
To effectively witness, we must know the Word. To grow in Christ, we must know the Word. To know His will for our lives, we must know the Word. To face life and all its “curve balls,” we must know the Word. To combat the atrocities of Satan’s lies, we must know the Word. To have a close, personal relationship with our Savior, we must know the Word.
Jewish children were taught the Scriptures at an early age. God seems to think that is important, for He says,
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
In another translation it says,
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NLT)
How can we train up a child in the way he should go, or direct our children onto the right path, if we don’t even know what God is telling us to relay to them? We must know His Word. Could this be why little hoodlums are being raised even in Christian homes?
Folks, for your own benefit and the benefit of your children, get in the Book. You will find such pleasure, you will wonder why you waited so long.
Grant Phillips
My articles are posted at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com/ and many are also posted at “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
