In the same way, we will need to look at the Bible with a few "lenses" on. Imagine having a strange set of goggles, equipped with many different lenses to help filter light, color, and magnify whatever you are looking at. In order to bring clarity to God's word and decipher the code, we will have to look at it with these High-tech Goggles.
The most important "lens" on our goggles is faith.
"For without faith it is impossible to please God, for all who come to God must believe that He is(exists), and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6.
Faith in God is different than belief in God.
James 2:19 "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!"
The difference is easy to show with a chair as an example. If I see a chair, I can say "I believe in that chair, that it exists." Go ahead, sit down! "Wait... what if the chair breaks, and I fall on my back?" The chair is sturdy, see? Faith would cause me to sit in the chair, believing what I have heard about it, and acting on that belief. I can believe in the chair, but have no faith in the chair. Faith without actions to back it up is dead faith, useless, and does not accomplish it's purpose. Check out these verses:
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
Jas 2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
Jas 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jas 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!
Jas 2:20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Jas 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
Jas 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
To read the word of God, but not look at it with the lens of faith on will limit our understanding because we come pre-disposed to believe that the "chair will not hold". It is only after we sit in it that we exercise our faith, and our understanding is increased. Make sense? Great! Check out these verses, too:
Psa_111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Pro_1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro_9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Pro_15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Isa_11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
What is "Fear of the Lord"? Well, do we fear fire? I do! I know that fire has the potential to burn, kill, destroy. But I also know fire can be used for cooking, heating, and light. I respect fire's unlimited potential, power, and capability. Therefore, I use great caution when making, using, and putting out fires.
I fear guns, because guns have the potential to kill, maim, and cause great sorrow. But since they have been used to preserve freedom, save innocent lives, and put supper on the table for billions, I use them with extreme caution and respect for their potentially devastating power.
I fear the Authorities of Law. They have the authority to pull me over and fine me 100's of dollars for disobeying speed limits. They have authority to arrest me for misconduct, seize my goods when I don't pay my bills, and even kill me if I am guilty of murder or am considered an immediate deadly threat to their safety or the safety of others. Therefore I fear the Law, and respect it's authority and obey it's precepts.
I fear God. The LORD created heaven and earth with his words. He invented gravity, light, and delicious food. He made lightning, the roaring oceans, and the greatest creatures to the smallest microscopic wonders. He created my soul. I fear God because He is just and has no favorites among men. I fear Him, therefore I respect His awesome power and ultimate authority. Fear of the Lord is as important as Faith in Him. Mixed together, these two elements will help us to see God's word from the right perspective; because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment