Read Your Bible
The single greatest tragedy in one’s life is neglect of the Bible. God has spoken, and it is written. In the Scriptures, God has revealed to us why the world is broken. He has also revealed His solution to the problem.
If a person neglects the Bible, the ultimate irony is that the Bible informs the person why he or she is neglecting it. There are consequences for not being informed. Of course, those consequences are revealed by God, so that no one has an excuse.
The root cause of man’s neglect of God’s Word is the enmity between them. Man blames God for the fall of man, although most people have little knowledge of that event because they have not read their Bibles (Gen 3). The blame for the plight of man and the condition of the world is man’s responsibility. Sin has consequences (Rom 6:23). It was spoken as a warning. It remains written as a warning…if you sin, you will die, and it is appointed once for a man to die and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27). The sentence of fiery hell as eternal punishment is in the lake of fire, forever (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). That should terrify the sinner, but it does not. Why?
The natural man hates God (Rom 1:30) and Jesus (Jn 7:7; 15:18–19, 23–25). Deceived by the devil, man believes the lies of the adversary, regarding the character of God. God is good, holy, righteous, and just. The devil, who is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), will tell you otherwise. It is no wonder that the ungodly look for salvation in big government. The reader of the Bible knows that God does not share His glory with another, especially nations that rage against Him (Ps 2).
Meanwhile, God hates those who do iniquity (Ps 5:5; 7:11; 11:5). His wrath is directed against the ungodly and the unrighteous (Rom 1:18). There is no place for the wicked to hide on the day of His wrath (Rev 6:16–17). Man, however, reasons with himself, “I am a good person and do many good works. I try my best to do what is right.” The Bible, however, retorts, “Every inclination of your heart is only evil all the time (Gen 6:5).” Man does not believe that assessment because He does not believe the Bible. He does not believe the Bible because He does not have the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9).
Man is ignorant of what God demands of him, and when he is told of these requirements and his lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4), he protests against the very existence of God. God sits in the heavens and laughs at man’s preposterous propositions (Ps 2).
Blinded from the Gospel truth by the demon god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), man has no mind for the things of the Spirit of God…they are foolish to him (1 Cor 1:18; 2:15). As a blind slave of sin (Rom 6:6), there is nothing in man’s nature (Eph 2:3) that would ever seek after God (Rom 3:11). This is exactly why sinners do not read their Bibles.
So why do some people read their Bibles, as those with a ravenous appetite? Why do most people live a Faustian existence? The answer to these questions is found in the Bible.
According to the Bible, it was the Holy Spirit who gave us the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). Inspiring chosen men to write, and moving them along, God spoke to humanity, knowing that it would be His elect who would cherish what the Bible said. Sinners neglect the Bible, saints do not.
The same Spirit of God who inspired the writing of Holy Writ also fills men of God to preach the Word (Lk 4:18; Rom 1:9; 15:19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Pet 1:12). These are men who have studied the Word of truth and have been approved to preach for their right handling of this stewardship entrusted to them by appointment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28; 2 Tim 2:15). Who believes the report of the Spirit-filled man of God, in his teaching sound doctrine?
The Word of life that gives life to its hearers is controlled by the life-giving Spirit (Jn 6:63; 1 Cor 15:45), who implants the Word in the good soil of the redeemed soul (Jas 1:21). The Spirit does this by giving one of Christ’s lost sheep ears to hear his or her Good Shepherd (Jn 10:27). The result is the manifestation of faith in those baptized and regenerated by the Spirit of grace (Zech 12:10; Mt 3:11; Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). The one who appeared dead to God is made alive to God, by the now indwelling Spirit of God (Rom 8:9, 11; Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13).
With a converted heart and renewed mind (Ezek 36:26; Rom 12:2), that is, the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), the new creation demonstrates new life in the Spirit (2 Cor 5:17). It is the Word that nourishes and continually cleans the new creature…a child of God (Eph 5:26; 1 Jn 3:1, 10). Pure milk of the Word is sought (1 Pet 2:2), and abundant provision is made. It is the same Spirit who directs the steps the new believer in Jesus on the path of righteousness (Prv 3:5–6). He guides the saint into all truth (Jn 16:13).
Who can resist the will of God in His work of sanctifying His holy nation of royal priests? Nothing and no one will separate God’s children from God’s Word. The Spirit of truth sanctifies with the Word of truth (Jn 17:17).
Christian, pray in the Spirit that God would lead you to the place where you can hear the Bible preached with sound exposition, derived from diligent exegesis and with vigilant interpretation. Helpful application will always resound with, “Go home and read your Bible.”
The true Christian life is a Spirit-led, Christ-centered, Bible-fed experience with the Holy Spirit as one’s Teacher (Jn 14:26). To grow in this grace, of reading your Bible, will result in you growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). It is God who creates the desire in the child of God for the Word of God. It is only God who can satisfy the desire He created.
The good work, of Bible reading and meditation, is started by God, and it will be stimulated by God until it is a finished work in the Christian (Phil 1:6). Therefore, I write, “Read your Bible,” knowing that He is faithful and true to make that good work a reality from this day forth and forever for His beloved saints. How do I know? It’s in the Bible.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 29, 2021
