Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
Last week, we explored some reasons “Why The Child of God Should Study the Word of God,” concluding with point 4, which emphasized that studying the word as a child of God is crucial because our adversary, the devil, is acquainted with it.
We said that Satan’s familiarity with the scripture implies that he had studied it, highlighting the importance for believers to read and study God’s Word to avoid being at a disadvantage against the devil, who appears to have certain scriptures memorized.
Today, we continue our exploration of the remaining points. Please enjoy the concluding part of the article and feel free to share it with others.
- Because of the example of Paul.
Paul was probably the greatest Christian that ever lived. His spiritual accomplishments are nothing short of staggering. Here was a man who made the first three missionary journeys, who founded and pastored the first fifty or more Bible-believing churches, who wrote over half of the New Testament, and who on five occasions saw the resurrected Christ, and at least once was actually caught up into the third heaven itself! But then he was arrested, condemned to death, and placed in prison. Note carefully his final words to Timothy just prior to his execution.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 4:6-8,13).
What were these parchments? They were his copies of the Old Testament scrolls. The point to be made here is that in spite of all his marvelous achievements, the old apostle still felt he could profit from studying the Word of God on the eve of his death.
- Because the Bible alone provides answers to life’s three sixty-four-trillion-dollar questions.
These questions, pondered by every generation, are:
- Where did I come from?
“And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26,27)
“Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (Ps. 100:3)
- Why am I here?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13)
“Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11)
- Where am I going?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:1,6)
“And whosever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev.20:15)
VII. Because we’ll never have the opportunity to apply many of its verses after we leave this earth.
- There will be no opportunity to apply 1 Corinthians 10:13in heaven.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Reason: In heaven there will be no temptation.
- There will be no opportunity to apply 1 John 1:9in heaven.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.(1 John 1:9)
Reason: In heaven there will be no sin.
- There will be no opportunity to apply Philippians 4:19in heaven.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:19). Reason: In heaven there will be no need.
- There will be no opportunity to apply John 14:1-3in heaven.
“Let not your heart be troubled:ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3)
Reason: In heaven there will be no sorrow.
- There will be no opportunity to apply Psalm 23:4in heaven.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4)
Reason: In heaven there will be no death.
VIII. Because the only ultimate proof for our faith is the Bible.
To introduce the eighth and final reason for studying God’s Word, the following imaginary situation is proposed. Often the unbeliever hurls the following accusation at the believer:
“Oh, you Christians-you’re all alike! You’re so dogmatic. You think you alone are right and everybody else is dead wrong. How can you possibly be so sure what you believe is true?” This question, though often asked in a scoffing manner, is nevertheless a fair one. How does the child of God know his faith is the only correct one?
Let us suppose that you are invited to an important social function in your hometown.
Attending this gathering are people from all over the world. As the introductions are being made, it slowly dawns upon you that the only professing Christian there is yourself. You are subsequently introduced to a Buddhist, a Confucianist, a Shintoist, a Moslem, and other individuals, all belonging to various non-Christian religions.
After a pleasant dinner, the conversation gradually turns out to matters of religion.
Your hostess, realizing this subject to be general interest, suddenly announces:
“I have a wonderful idea! Since everyone here seems to have a great interest in religion, may I suggest that we share with one another by doing the following: Each person will be allowed to speak uninterrupted for ten minutes on the subject, ‘Why I feel my faith is the right one.’”
The group quickly agrees with this unique and provocative idea. Then with no warning she suddenly turns you and exclaims, “You go first!” All talk immediately ceases. Every eye is fixed on you. Every ear is turned to pick up your first words. What would you say?
How would you start? Let us quickly list a few arguments which you could not use.
- You couldn’t say, “I know I’m right because I feel I’m right! Christ lives in my heart!” This, of course, is a wonderful truth experienced by all believers, but it would not convince the Buddhist, who would doubtless feel that he was right too.
- You couldn’tsay, “I know I’m right because Christianity has more followers in this world than any other religion.”
This is simply not true today. Actually, the sad truth is that evangelical Bible believing Christianity is a distinct minority in the world today. The Moslem would doubtless quickly point this out to you.
- You couldn’t “I know I’m right because Christianity is the oldest of all religions. Ultimately, of course, this is true. But the Confucianist might contend that Confucius presented his teachings centuries before the Bethlehem scene. Of course, he would not understand the eternal existence of our Lord Jesus Christ. These then are arguments you could not use. What could you say?
In reality you would have at your disposal only one single argument. But that argument, that weapon, used in the right way, would be more than enough to overwhelmingly convince any honest and sincere listener at the social gathering. That wonderful weapon, that unanswerable argument, is one’s own personal copy of the Bible! What could you say? Well, you could hold up your Bible and confidently proclaim the following:
“Look at this! I know I’m right because the Author of my faith has given me a Book which completely unlike any of the books of your faiths.”
You could then continue (until your time ran out) by pointing out the unity, the indestructibility, and the universal influence of the Bible. You could discuss its historical, scientific, and prophetical accuracy. Finally, you might relate exciting, examples of perhaps the greatest single proof of the supernatural nature of the Bible, that is, its marvelous life-transforming power!
Of course, it must be pointed out that neither the Word of God nor the God of the Word can be scientifically analyzed in a laboratory test tube. The divine Creator still desires and demands faith on the part of his Creation (See Heb. 11:1-6) But he has presented us with a heavenly textbook to aid us in this needed faith. In fact, the Gospel of John was specially written” …. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name”. (John 20:31)
- Culled from: Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible
Remain Blessed!
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