Inside the cover of John Bunyan’s Bible were penned these words,
“This Book will keep you from sin
or sin will keep you from this Book.”
I was thinking about that statement tonight as I was remembering my Dad. Today (January 5) would have been his 60th birthday. He used to quote me that phrase from time to time during his lectures or when I was being rebellious or stubborn, and it has stuck with me throughout the years. It’s really been proven true time and time again because it is based on the simple reality that the more I delve into the Word, and the closer I get to God, the further I will get from the pull of sin. People might say, oh it isn’t the Bible that will keep you from sin, because it is just a book and you should not exalt it so. But they err in stating this because God Himself clearly says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God! (John 1:1) The reality is that this Book is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12).
I recall one time when I was being stubborn – so determined that I was right. He was frustrated at me — a cocky know-it-all teenager, and He got right up in my face and told me in that quiet low voice – that dangerous voice where you knew it was best to keep your mouth shut – that I couldn’t see the truth of the matter, but Jesus Christ could see the truth because Jesus Christ is the truth, and here are His words written in black and white. I knew I had lost at the point because even in my stubbornness, I knew that the Bible was the infallible Word of God and I could not dispute that what was so clearly stated. I sat here tonight, leafing through the pages of Dad’s well worn Bibles, chuckling at some of the notes and taking note of the vigorous underlines and pencilled statements and pink or yellow highlights throughout. He loved Proverbs – so many bits of wisdom packed into 31 chapters. And the Words of Christ, and the letters of Paul.
But as I look through the many pages, I see a theme…a pattern. I see that the verses that struck him were about faith and love and grace. He lived the gospel through his words and life and he followed the principles of giving even when he had nothing to give but his abilities. This book had a profound affect on him because the Author of the book had rescued him from the slavery of sin and brought him into a new life in Christ Jesus! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony… And that testimony and those stories of heroes and legends will be told and retold a hundred more times because the Lord himself says that the grass will fade and wither but the Word of the Lord will endure forever.
This Word – this Book – has radically changed lives. Millions of lives for over 2,000 years. This Book will continue to change lives because it is infused with the very words of an infinite God with infinite love for us. The Bible, God’s story of love for humanity and His amazing plan of redemption, will keep us off the path of sin if we meditate on it; study it; live it. And sin… that stuff that we think is so great while we are in it… it will keep us from this Book too. Laziness, apathy, deception, lust … all of those things that bring shame and self condemnation will keep us from picking up the Bible and reading it. They do. I have been there so often. But I know that God desires me to be in His Word. As I flipped through the book of Proverbs, I read these words in chapter two, underlined and circled:
1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
This is great, Josh. So true. Sin keeps you away from His book. And I don’t know anyone who is really enjoying their life away from Him if they belong to Him.
On a side note: I keep running into people who attempt to rip parts of the Word out or dismiss entire books or authors based on their own understanding, not acknowledging it is the infallible word of God. As such, they have lost their anchor and are floating around in relativism, careening out of the loving care of God into dangerous, injurius sin. I wouldn’t be surprised this is a way to read His book and sin. Just cut out the parts that convict of sin and you’ll be fine. Oh what a terrible realization when they discover the truth is the truth even if it is uncomfortable or hard.
Sorry for the micro-post there but it’s true. I’ll have to post on this too. 🙂