Lots of people desire to know the truth. They want to deal with facts when making important decisions. Believers in Christ especially talk of wanting to know the will of God for themselves or concerning specific situations. With this mindset that truth is essential in every activity of daily living, the search begins either consciously or inadvertently.
Amongst profess believers some have lost their way in their attempts to know or discover the truth themselves. They have therefore deliberately or by default contracted the search for the truth to others. Such others that they hold in high esteem that sometimes borders on worship have various designations that include pastor, prophet, mature Christian, apostle and any other title they care to confer on such ones as they chose to subject themselves to determine how they should lead their Christian life.
Thus, many continue to be led astray by blind guides and continue to live a life much below what Christ would want for them. This unfortunate situation is all the more tragic when it is realised that the written word of God is available to them and God promises His presence in the person of the Holy Spirit to the believer.
Some questions for you to ponder:
- Are you a genuine believer in Christ?
- Do you take God at His word?
- Do you believe God still guides His children today?
- Are you looking to and in the right place for guidance?
We live in an era when to have someone else be in-charge or in-control especially over one’s life makes many uncomfortable. But the reality is that though it may not seem so, if you look well enough you will discover that your life is under the control of many entities in some way.
God created and loves you
The one that truly loves you is God who created you. He loved you so much that he gave His only Son for you (John 3:16; Rom 5:8). And Christ loves you so much that He laid down His life for you (John 10:11; 15:13; 1John 3:16).
On the basis of who God is and what He has done for you, I just want to encourage you now you should for your own benefit make the word of God to be the authority over your life.
To ensure that you the believer in Christ is not left to your own devices or fall prey to the wicked schemes of others, God has made available His written word to you and has granted you His Holy Spirit to teach and train you through the instrument of His written word.
Expressly, we are informed:
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom 15:4).
The conduct of the believers in Christ
Previous to the above verse of Scripture and in the same epistle to the Romans, believers in Christ have been taught that:
- Believers in Christ are not to despise or condemn other Christians in doubtful disputations, debates or disagreements, for example, the eating of food, the way one esteems or do not esteem a day and such other things (Rom 14:1-12).
- Christians are not to hinder the conduct of other Christians. Rather, believers in Christ should encourage one another in good conduct (Rom 14:13-23).
- Believers in Christ are to follow Christ as their example or model when dealing with other Christians (Rom 15:1-13).
Further, Rom 15:1-4 summarised the Christian conduct discussion of Roman 14.
Where believers in Christ are taught that:
- Those who are strong (in convictions and conscience), ought to bear with the failings (infirmities, weakness) of the weak (v.1). The strong has this obligation as an on-going duty.
- The strong, and indeed, every Christian should please his fellow Christian for his good to edification (building up) (v.2). That is, a Christian should not be self-centred, rather should be concerned with the spiritual welfare of other Christians around him.
- In whatever the Christian does or is doing, he should imitate Christ who did not please Himself, but suffered for the sake of others (v.3).
- Then comes v.4 quoted above:
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom 15:4).
This is telling us that all the above are for one purpose: for our instruction. It is for the believers in Christ to be instructed by them and to thereby learn how to conduct themselves that they are written.
Scripture in many other places corroborate the above, compare:
“This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.” (102:18).
“We will not hide them from their children, Shewing to the generation to come The praises of the Lord, and his strength, And his wonderful works that he hath done.” (Ps 78:4).
“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them to their children.” (Ps 78:6).
This again tells us that the Old Testament Scriptures were written not for the old-time believers alone, but also for the subsequent generations of believers down to and including believers of today.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
This verse is connected to what has been spoken before. It is the reason for what is to follow here in this verse. Anything or all things without exception that were written before is a reference Scripture. Scripture makes us to understand that writing had been one way of God preserving His word through the past ages. He commanded Moses to write down what He commanded him in a book (cf. Ex 34:27; Deut. 31:9, 24).
Such writings were not only for the use of the immediate recipients of such instructions and commands, but also for the use and benefit of the generations to come. And so, today, it is for our use and our benefit. It is for us to learn, to study and to apply in practice. We are to and should be instructed by them.
Such study and instruction are not purposeless. In addition to being commanded by God, there is much benefit to be derived from it. Believers are to be instructed or trained by them. They are the means of knowing the will of God.
As we patientlystudy and put into practice what we are learning: We will be able to recollect the patience of previous saints as written in Scripture, as they withstood reproaches and persecution because of their faith and we will be encouraged by their example as we face similar situations in our day.
We discover the promises of God, and how they manifested on the pages of Scripture in the lives of the children of God, and the enemies of God, and we draw comfort from them. We will on occasions be able to echo the Palmist’s saying,
“This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me.” (Ps 119:50).
Our Lord Jesus Christ in His sufferings and sacrifice should be our perfect model of self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Our Lord was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. The Lord defeated devil by using the word of God (Mat 4:1-11), which is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17, cf. Rev 1:16).
Indeed, all the events relating to life of the Lord as detailed on the pages of the Holy Scripture are there for our instruction. We thus see much of Scripture speaking of His patience and consolation that sustained Him under such enormous suffering.
And these should be appropriate nourishment for our spirit, ministering to us the hope of that blessed day when these shall be no more as we are told:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev 21:4).
We should especially realise that the same traits the Lord demonstrated in His earthly life including His sufferings and ultimate sacrifice on the cross, we are commanded to demonstrate too.
For example, we are to be:
“rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Rom 12:12).
Child of God, you want to make an important decision that is according to the will of God then let God’s word be your authority for guidance.
Again Some Questions:
- How do you determine the will of God?
- Or how would you know you know God has spoken?
- Are you growing in faith?
- What is your view of the Holy Bible?
- Where do you get the template for your daily living?
Remember that no man has seen God at any time. But Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son has declared Him (John 1:18). As we are told,
“in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9).
And He rightly said,
“he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).
You want to see God? Then look to the Lord Jesus Christ.
One major way to hear from God is through His written word.
Do you still need convincing?
Let us have a closer look at the source of the knowledge of our faith:
“Whatsoever things were written aforetime”
is referring to the written word of God as found on the pages of the Holy Scripture. It is by the word of God that the believer in Christ should conduct his life.
Some of the attributes of the word of God.
God is the source of the word of God
God’s word is from God and is God and God is His word. Just as you cannot be separated from your word, God cannot be separated from His word. The Word has an enlivening or vitalising power all its own that is quite separate from who preaches it. It has power from the fact that it is God’s Word.
All Scripture is God-breathed (2Tim 3:16).
“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim 3:16-17).
No prophecy is of private interpretation. Holy men spoke as they were borne along by the Holy Spirit.
“20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2Pet 1:20-21).
God is committed to His word. He backs up His word:
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is 55:11).
“For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word.” (Is 66:2).
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).
Things inherent in or the effect of the word of God:
“7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward.” (Ps 19:7-11).
“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim 3:16-17).
The experience of previous saints of God:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:11).
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jer. 15:16).
The Holy Scripture is the revelation of God to man. It contains invaluable lessons for all believers in Christ and the whole of mankind that could not have been obtained other than by divine revelation. It is for the believer the manual for living a life that is consecrated to the service of the Living God.
As we encounter problems, conflicts, tribulations, and troubles, the Scriptures teach us to be steadfast, and they impart encouragement and comfort to us. Hence, instead of collapsing under the waves of unpleasant circumstances, we are sustained by the hope that the Lord will see us through.
We should therefore accept the word of God and let the Holy Scripture be our authority to which we should submit all the time as we continue our spiritual journey in this earthly existence as we expectantly wait and look forward to the soon-coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
This bears repeating so I remind you that:
The one that truly loves you is God who created you. He loved you so much that he gave His only Son for you (John 3:16; Rom 5:8). And Christ loves you so much that He laid down His life for you (John 10:11; 15:13; 1John 3:16). He wants the best for you and has amply demonstrated that.
To ensure that you the believer in Christ is not left to your own devices or fall prey to the wicked schemes of others, God has made available His written word to you and has granted you His Holy Spirit to teach and train you through the instrument of His written word.
God has ensured the preservation of His written word. That word is with you now not by accident but by God’s design and for His purpose.
I cannot put it better than He expressly expressed it:
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom 15:4).
So, the ball is in your court. Obey the commandment of God from today. For your own benefit make the word of God to be the authority over your life from Now and for the rest of your Christian journey.
May the LORD grant you the courage to henceforth put Him first in all that you do in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The unbeliever
But this has been about the believer in Christ. Perhaps you are yet an unbeliever and you are asking, “How do I come in seeing I do not yet know Christ?”
What if Christ is not yet your Saviour? What if you are not yet born of the Spirit? Then the above does not yet apply to you. You are yet outside the fold of believers in Christ.
But there is a way out for God has made provision for you too.
How?
By becoming a born-again child of God as demanded and provided for by God:
The invitation has gone out to all human beings including you reading this piece.
Accept God’s verdict concerning human beings:
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And that“the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
That is, in the opinion of God, we all fall short of His standard. Further, our sin has earned a deserved wage which is death or separation from God in hell.
But while we are still in our sin, God took the initiative to reconcile us with Himself as we are told:
“But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Yes, while we were all still in our sin, God showed His love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for us. God gave Jesus Christ to the whole world (John 3:16). So, all we need to do is to accept that Christ has died for our sin by standing in place of us.
We do this by doing what the word of God commands all would-be believers:
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Everyone who appropriates the sacrifice of Christ is acceptable to Him. And He Himself extended the invitation to all:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
So, I encourage you to appropriate the finished work of Christ and confess Him as your Saviour and Lord NOW!
I prayer that God will accept you into His household through Christ in Jesus’ Name, Amen.