Joshua 1:8 says this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. The bible is the law of God to guide us in life in the world, the breach of which leads us to spiritual death and annihilation. The law of God is the word of God which since creation, God has been instructing us through his written and unwritten word.
Prior to the laws of Moses, God instructed Adam by word. God said in Genesis 2: 15-17 the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, you may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die. Adam disobeyed and the consequence of death as God said became our headache until Christ came.
Aside from God’s written word, the bible, God continues to instruct us through the medium of our hearts, conscience, dreams, trance, visions, his servants, and direct instructions or encounters as Paul experienced on the way to Damascus. We must not desecrate the word of God with any form of sin or evil because it has repercussions. Proverbs 4: 4 says let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Ezekiel 18: 4, 20 say the soul that sins shall die.
God’s word is life for Philippians 2: 16 says hold fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ, I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. 1 John 1:1 also describes it as the word of life.
The bible and its origin
The word of God originated from God even prior to creation. John 1:1 says in the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It is permanent and unchangeable. Mark 13:31 says heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. The bible is the unchangeable word of God for ever and throughout all generations. They are relevant today as when they were first spoken even before creation.
The bible as we have today has semitic origin which has travelled through Greek and subsequently Latin translations. The books of the bible are old religious books containing the words of God passed through both oral and written traditions from one generation to another. They were in the forms of scrolls or papyrus in the Semitic era. It has sacred origin and God fills in lost written documents by his unwritten word for no book can encapsulate God’s entire words.
The first written commandments of God were given to Moses by God himself at Mount Sinai, Exodus 32:19; 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:17; 10:1-5. Jesus explained the commandment when he said in John 13:34, a new commandment I give to you, love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Jesus meant that God’s commandment is all about love (not lust or infatuation). As a demonstration, John 15:13 says greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Love is the basis of all things pleasing to God.
While the Old Testament was originally written between about 1200 and 165 BC in Hebrew, the New Testament was compiled by Christians between the first and second century AD. It is believed by biblical scholars that the bible was written over 3500 years ago. What then was the purpose of the bible?
The purpose of God’s word
It was to protect us from sin and upon adherence, be pleasing in God’s sight. Hebrews 10:16-17 say I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,… I will remember their sins and misdeeds no more. Psalms 119: 11 says I have laid up thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee. The word of God is God’s truth for our security and insurance against sin.
The bible is the manual of life where the journey of life begins and ends. It tells us of our origin; where we are and where we are going; our relationship with the creator and owner of the universe; the nature and quality of life expected of us; and why we are here. Sometimes to the carnal mind these statements appear to them as fairy tales. It is our compass to show us the way back home to God.
1 Corinthians 2: 14 says but the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 3: 19 says for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. Many of us question the wisdom of God as relates to the bible. 1 Corinthians 1: 25 says the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
God has given us the manual of life because he does not want any of us to perish. 2 Peter 3: 9 says the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us –ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The bible speaks to whatever challenges or problems we encounter and what to do in order to inherit eternity with him. Our problem is that we either do not know God’s word or do not know where to find God’s voice in any situation.
In times of old, God’s words written and unwritten were twisted, confused and obfuscated by human doctrines and interpretations. God then sent his Son Jesus Christ to show us the way. Jesus said in John 14: 6 that I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. 1 John 4: 9-10 says in this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.
Christ Jesus has therefore given us the Holy Spirit to aid us to appreciate the voice of God by the bible. Jesus said in John 14: 26 but when the Comforter comes, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me. Some of us have the zeal to know God but are misdirected. Romans 10: 2 says for I bear them record that they have zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. To know the voice of God is to know what the bible says of life.
If we want to live, we must revere the bible as the word of God. Deuteronomy 30: 15 says see, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. Verse 19 also says I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before your life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. Do we want life or death, blessing or curse?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, your word is light unto our path and lamp unto our feet. For your love, you died for us that we may not perish but have eternal life. Lead us by our light; feed us with your word and rescue our souls from eternal destruction by your immaculate blood in your holy name, Amen!!
