01/06/2022
As Christians we are not meant to be blind to the meaning of God’s Holy Word, nor are we to be deaf to His truth that is contained there. There are many who read and study the Bible, and claim to know it, yet their hearts remain empty, and their minds like barren wastelands. I pray that we will never join these who will passionately argue scripture, or quote verse in hollow repetition, never feeling true love for the Lord, or Jesus Christ… not even in passing. They pour over the words, but not once do they feel or acknowledge God’s love, and presence, in His Holy Word.
“Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!”
Isaiah 43:8 ESV
I took classes in Shakespeare, and read his plays, I read Moby Dick, and enjoyed the writing of Melville, but these were the words of men. I studied them in detail, and discussed them with others, but when I put down the books, and walked out of the classroom, or theater, all I took with me was what my mind had experienced… and when I die, none of this will save me. We can read the Bible just like this, and we can hear the cadence of its poetry, just as if it were Walt Whitman, or Thoreau, but like those carnal writings of men, they will not really be timeless… only words, and only songs that are sung without divine knowledge and understanding. It is God’s love that makes His Word eternal, and only our true belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives us access to the Great I Am, and the eternity that awaits us in His Word. In this is truth, and our ability to believe. In God’s love our hope remains, and in it exists our promise of life everlasting… even to our final breath.
“if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
Proverbs 2:4-6 ESV
If we do not have faith, believe in God, Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit, then we are most certainly blind, and deaf to the truth that flows in and through the Word of God, and the gospel of Jesus. He pulls a veil over the truth and glory of what abides there so that His blessings remain hidden to the minds of those who only believe in their own ability, and the wisdom of the world. The promise of eternity remains lost to them, but is revealed to those who believe.
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 ESV
My mother-in-law was an amazing Christian woman who died in the throes of dementia. In her final days she did not know who she was, nor did she know the names of her own children, but weak as she was, she would breath hymns, and just before she died a doctor who worked in the hospital where she awaited death said something wonderful to my wife… he said that even in the comatose state that she was in, she had laid there and quietly praised the Lord all night long. This reassured my wife, but it reminded me that although many believers in similar situations appear to be unresponsive, or we wonder if they are saved or not, God remains with them, unseen by us, and if they will believe, Jesus will still abide in them, and they in Him. We are not meant to be blind, nor deaf, to God, Jesus, or to God’s Holy Word, and the extent to which our Heavenly Father is willing to go to save us is unfathomable… as witnessed on Calvary, and on death beds around the world.
“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
Luke 23:42-43 ESV
Do we acknowledge the truth and love of God that exists in the Bible? Do we realize the incredible extent to which He has gone to redeem us, heal our blind eyes, and make our ears able to hear Him once again? Are we so entrenched in our disbelief that the veil will remain over us… even as we exhale our final breath… and the words of the Bible remain just words to us? Or, will His love melt our frozen hearts, and allow us to love Him in return, as His presence surrounds us in divine sight, and sound for all eternity?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us so completely that you would send your Son Jesus to redeem us on the cross, and for giving us your Holy Word to guide, and deliver us, as we love you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Holy, Holy, Holy, are your our God who veils your Word from the unbeliever, but reveals it to those who believe. Praised be your name for every truth, promise, and blessing we receive from you as we search your Word with the eyes and ears of our hearts and souls. Merciful are you who has provided us an escape from sin and death through Jesus, and who, by your grace, leads us to an even greater understanding of your glory through your Word, and the Holy Spirit. Wash us with the blood of Jesus, and cleanse us of all sun. Make us righteous, Holy, and worthy in Christ, as we enter your judgement. Call us your children, and seat us before you. Hear our praise and worship forevermore.
Rich Forbes