For
it is written: “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.” (John 4:4)
“Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
“All
your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160)
For
every apparatus manufactured, there is equally a manual to guide the user how
to gain maximum benefit from its features. For those who suppose they know, and
who do not bother to read the fine print, they will wake up one day to
discover, perhaps years after, that the apparatus was not being put to full
use. Some of its special features had lain dormant all along until one day, for
one reason or another, they dared to flip over the pages of the instructions
manual provided.
The
Christian’s guide book is the Bible. The Old Testament is a shadow of what was
to come and the New Testament is the accomplishment of what was prophesied in
the Old Testament. All what we read about in the Old Testament prepared us for
the coming of the Saviour of humanity, Jesus the Christ.
The
Bible is not a story book but God’s word to all believers; telling them how to
live and what to live for because the life we live is not our own. It is a
handbook for righteous living and the formula for inheriting eternal life. It
is a revelation of God’s love for humanity at large. It also recounts the
overture God makes to His creation and the painful birth pangs it endured
because of man’s stubbornness.
God
reaches out to humanity to save it from destruction and damnation. Humanity
turns its back on God but God continues to offer His love – the reason He sent
His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins that all those who believe in Him will be
saved. There is no other way to reach God than through His Son. “For God so
loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) God did not wait for men and women to
be perfect before they could come to Him. He is the potter and we are the clay.
That relationship was knit at creation.
“The
word of God is flawless.” (2 Samuel 22:31) meaning that we cannot find fault
with it. We should be cautious therefore how we approach it. “I warn everyone
who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to
them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone
takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his
share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this
book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
This
book contains the words of God as He spoke over the ages to special people to
write. It has an everlasting feature to it that surpasses time and space.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew
24:35) It cannot change. God identifies Himself by His word. He and His word
are indissoluble. His word blesses, uplifts, convicts, restores and purges the
soul and the heart of human beings. Jesus said: “The words I have spoken to you
are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63) The Bible cannot be understood by
using mere reading or magnifying glasses; the Word of God is perceived by a
man’s spiritual eyes and heart, not his head.
Jesus
is the Word of God that came in the flesh---in the form of a human
being---speaking only what He has heard from the Father. “The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One
and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
A
good many people love God but not enough to read His word; it would be like
fish living out of water. God’s word is and must be an integral part of our
beings; we cannot do without it – like rain is to clouds.
Speaking
through the prophet Isaiah, God give us this assurance: “So the word that goes
out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I
desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) Not one
word of God written in His book will remain unfulfilled; not one will fall to
the ground without being accomplished.
The
Living Word is not just a code of conduct but a book that contains the promises
of God to all believers. The word of God is true. God wants to bless us
abundantly as His children but we would have to tap into His word.
Very
often we gaze at our circumstances, ponder over them and not use the word of God
to unravel the situation. Stand on God’s words by speaking to every mountain
that comes your way. Our Lord Jesus said to His disciples who could not heal a
boy brought to them with epilepsy that it was because they had so little faith.
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will
be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
“For
the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit; joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Trust me, God has a word
for any and every circumstance in our lives. Do not judge this book by its
cover. Whatever you may think of it, it is the living word of God, for God is
not dead but living. It derives its power from being read and spoken. Its power
is not automatic because you possess one or if you leave it lying in your
bookshelf or on your centre table. Unlike any other book, it is when you take
from it and utter it over your circumstances that it becomes alive.
God
has already spoken through His Son. We need to take heed. All that we need to
learn about Him is in His Word. It is not enough to profess we are Christians
if we do not know what the death of Christ has brought us. The good news of
life and living is all wrapped up like a gift in the words contained in the
Bible. Like Paul the Apostle we also should be saying; “I am not ashamed of the
gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
This
book, the world’s bestseller, has a transforming effect on all who seek to
appropriate its promises. Yes, it opens our eyes to God’s love for us. He wants
nothing back and has given His all. He told Joshua; “Do not let this Book of
the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be
careful to do all that is written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8) Be on God’s side! Walk according
to His ways! It is for our good.
