We read God’s Word to learn about Him and to hear from Him. How, then, can we approach the Bible as a dry and dusty book? How can scripture not be our most valuable possession? You will find everything you need to know about how to live a life pleasing to God in the pages of the Bible. God’s word reveals everything you need to know about life, death, and the life to come.
It is sufficient for our salvation, and it is complete in its revelation. While the Holy Spirit may give us fresh insight to help us understand and apply some of the Bible’s teachings, there is no new revelation. The very Words of God to man were gifted to us 2,000 years ago and have been guiding those who will come to Him ever since.
You will find many people on television and the internet claiming to have a fresh word or revelation from God. Don’t believe it. God’s Word is complete and even warns us not to add or take anything away from it (Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2). Anyone claiming a new word from God is essentially saying they have something to add to Scripture. We immediately know that’s false because God said, “Don’t do that!” I believe the Holy Spirit can enlighten us to a new understanding of scripture as we need it and become mature enough to accept the teaching, but that’s not a new revelation. It’s been there all along. We have in our possession the very words of God, complete and sufficient.
While we may recognize it on an intellectual level, how often do we contemplate the Bible we hold in our hands contains the very words of God? That is an awesome fact. God loves us so much that He gave His only Son, who is Himself the Word of God (John 1:1), to die on our behalf (John 3:16). We must approach the Bible with the awe and reverence due to God Himself, not because we worship the Bible, but because it contains the very words of the God we do worship.
I have an uncanny knack for memorizing the lyrics of a multitude of songs. That’s not an uncommon “talent”, but it is one which should convict us of our priorities. I wager that you, like me, have far more lyrics to popular songs memorized than you have verses of scripture committed to memory. Why is that? Sure, words set to music are easier to remember, but that’s not the entire story. The truth is, we find songs more engaging than we do the very words of God. This should not be!
In an ever-increasing number of countries, it is illegal to possess a Bible. Even having pieces of scripture copied onto scraps of paper can result in a prison sentence or even death. Evil men and religions recognize the power in the very words of God. They know the truth of scripture makes them accountable for every selfish act and desire they love, so they will stop at nothing to destroy it.
Someday, perhaps sooner than we think, they will come and take our Bibles away. When that happens, the only words of God we will have will be what is hidden in our hearts. If we don’t love God’s Word now, what will we do when the law states we can no longer have it? Then we will yearn for the glory of God’s Word. Don’t wait until then to devour and remember the very words of God. Study them, commit them to memory, and love them. Do not take the availability of God’s Word for granted. Get to know Him and listen to Him through His Word.