The Bible, God's Memoirs

Do you have a passion for the Word of God? Is the Bible something you want to read, or do you find yourself making excuses or ignoring it? Do you read it only when you feel guilty or have some church obligation? It is amazing how the enemy satan and our flesh has seduced many of us into neglecting the most important book in our lives. The Bible contains and is the Words of Life. When we neglect it we are in essence choosing death. That places things in a whole different light, doesn't it? The Bible tells us the reason why we are here, how to live, and the answers to solve all the problems we will face. Yet, many people seem to be looking to other sources for help and information.

A number of years ago I knew a man who attended the same church we did; he once boasted that he had finally read the whole Bible—as if that were some great accomplishment or he now knew all he needed to know about it. Another time there was a neighbor who asked me to read to him. I told him I would only read the Bible to him. He had studied the Bible some and could quote numerous passages, but chose to ignore the Truths within it, and considered it of lesser value compared to other books from other religions. It was no surprise to me why he was going blind. No other book offers such an intimate relationship with the author.

Yet, I know many Christians who will sit and read fiction novels one after another, or whenever they have a spare moment, but they don't give the Bible the same consideration. Not to mention the amount of time many waste watching TV or playing video games or doing other things. Where has our value and hunger for the Word of God gone? What other book gives such insights to the power of prayer, faith or a relationship with the Heavenly Father? Or the principles of life and community?

Most people don't really understand the importance of the Word of God, including many ministers. The apostle Paul cautioned Timothy, a young minister, "...that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than of God, holding to the form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who... (are) always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Tim. 3:2-7). "But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (II Tim. 3:13). Wow, that was a mouthful; but it does explain a lot of the problems or reasons for many people's lack of interest in the Bible. Then Paul instructs young Timothy to, "...continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (II Tim. 3:14-15). Note: Paul here emphasizes discerning the source of your information.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for ever good work." (II Tim. 3:16)

Back to my original question. Do you have a passion for God's Word? If we really love God and have a desire to know him, we should spend a lot more time with Him in prayer, fasting, and in His Word. You can often recognize godly people by their actions—what they do and the way they talk or speak. I know of another man who can best illustrate this. He has spent hours in prayer, read the Bible seven times through in one year, many times in other years; one time he read it through in one week; he also typed the whole New Jerusalem Bible into his computer (before software); he has read over twenty translations, other times he covered his walls with key scripture verses, sleeps with his Bible next to him, and seeks to see and understand the scriptures from God's perspective and not just man's. He also fasted regularly. Now that is what I call a passion for God's Word. The late John Lake walked 20 miles into the jungles of Africa to preach The Word, and back out every Sunday for over a year. I'm sure you have heard of other godly men with such passion. But, these men were no different than you or me. Yet, they just chose to make Jesus Christ and His Word the center and focus of their lives. As a result, the Heavenly Father desires to communicate with such people and display His miraculous power through them.

Now I don't expect everyone to be that passionate. (Passion usually has a lot to do with the call on one's life.) However, it should not be an excuse or a reason to neglect the Bible the way many have. However, if you want to really know God and the power of His Word, there is only one way: spend more time in it and with its author. Smiths Wigglesworth was a powerful man of God who claimed the Bible was the only book he ever read. If we want and expect to see the power of God working in and through us, we need to sit down and get plugged into The Bible, God's memoirs.