Studying Hard
“The LORD said to me, ‘Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the LORD. Give attention to the entrance to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.’”
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 44:1-14 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
In honor of all the awesome students who are going back to school.
Every problem that we face in this world is because us humans don’t “look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything” that is written in the word of God.
Here is what our Baptist Faith and Message says about the Bible:
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.
Of course, as I mentioned in another blog, some people will ask: Why does the Bible have exclusive rights to the truth? And that is exactly the right question.
And of course, I can’t really answer that question in a short blog like this. A lot of books and papers and blogs have been written by people a lot smarter than I in order to answer that question (for example, Why I Trust the Bible).
But let me take a little stab at the beginning of a response to that question.
To say that truth is relative is self-contradictory and ultimately a cop out. Because that statement itself is a truth claim. You can’t make a truth claim by claiming that there is no truth.
There is some truth out there that describes reality.
Humans, with our limited, finite capacity, are ultimately incapable of apprehending that truth.
If there is a God who designed and created the universe, and if that God wants to have a relationship with us, then that God must make Himself known to us.
Then, in order to make Himself known to us, there must be some unique revelation of Himself out there that most accurately reflects who He is. If that revelation were not unique or if that revelation were not accurate, what a cruel god that would be. It may as well be the devil.
Of all the possible revelations of “God” out there, the Bible is the only one that has God coming to us in human history to help us deal the fundamental problem of our existence, sin. Its uniqueness suggests that it is true.
Obviously, my response is not foolproof. Obviously, my response requires a leap of faith at every point. But every truth claim in this universe requires a leap of faith at every point.
And here’s the thing—at least for me. If #4 were not true, what point would there really be to living at all. How depressing! It was only when I came to accept #4 on faith that I started to have real hope for my life. And I am not unique as far as that is concerned.
Now, some people might say that the whole goal of humanity is to improve ourselves, and eventually we will evolve into wise, peace-loving, and enlightened beings. Based on the evidence of history and the present reality, what a huge leap of faith that is!
Father, You are God, and we are not. Your understanding and Your ways are beyond our comprehension. As smart as some people are, why do some people think they know better than You? Forgive our arrogance. Forgive my arrogance. But show us Your glory and reveal Your truth. Show us Your glory and fulfill everything that has been written. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
