Today, I celebrate 10 years to the day since I trusted in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I look back over my life and cannot help but be in awe of all that God has done and is doing in my life. This last year, despite the fact that I had to sit out yet another year, despite that I still have 56 credits to finish before I can graduate, despite trying to pay on student loans and a bassoon while still trying to save up so I can go back to school, God has been teaching me much. Actually, these responsibilities- plus others- have been the means by which God has been teaching and growing me.The most important truth that God showed me this year is in relation to His Word. Actually, it's that He is The Word. I think we all know this and believe that we have a good grasp and handle on this, but this really is a truth we will spend the rest of our lives comprehending.
One must wonder as you read the book of Hebrews if perhaps our interpretation of "The word is alive, powerful, sharper than any two edged sword....(Heb. 4:12)" is slightly too narrow when we say that this verse is talking about Scripture. I have only thought on this because the book of Hebrews is a book that tells us how Jesus Christ is better than...well, everything. And then, for one verse, we think it's talking about the actual Scriptures themselves. But, then we read v. 13. "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." For one verse it was talking about Scripture, then suddenly it shifts back to Christ? What if the whole point of the author of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ IS The Living Scripture? Afterall, Jesus fullfilled the Law so that He would be THE Fullfillment of The Law. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is The Word made flesh which dwelt among us.
I think the author of Hebrews is calling us to remember something. The Word (Scripture) is alive and powerful in our lives and hearts because The Word (Christ) is alive and sits at the right hand of The Father.
I don't know about you, but I have often wished on many occassions that I could have a direct conversation with Christ the way the Apostles did. I have talked with people over the years and once concluded that if we could see and hear Christ directly the way they did, it might somehow be a special reinforcement to us; that it might have more meaning somehow. But, then I'm reminded of Christ' response to Thomas- "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe." I think of Peter who saw and witnessed all Christ did, and then still denied Him. The reality is it wouldn't be any different. And, it doesn't have to. The reason: if we want to wonder and know exactly what Christ would tell us as we go through the different situations of life, all we have to do is open the pages of our Bibles to know EXACTLY what He would say. The words written down for us are the exact words that Jesus would share with us. How do I know that? Because He- as God- inspired the text. This is the part where our understandings of Bibliology and Christology meet hand in hand. The Bible is The Living Word because Christ is The Living Word.
The Word is alive, ladies and gentlemen. The Word is alive.
"The Bible was inspired over a period of 2,000 years in times of war and in days of peace; by kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers, and shepherds. The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive could've been written over such a period of time and staggers the imagination. Jesus is its grand subject, our good its design, and The Glory of God is its end."
- John Piper
How are we living this out?
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith,
Noah
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
1 Timothy 6:12
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1 comment:
Thanks for the email, Noah. Also, Happy New Birth Day. haha. That is so exciting! I was thinking this month during my Birthday that in July of this year will be 16 years since my new birth in Christ. 16 years! Thanks for reminding me again. The whole blog was encouraging as well. I think of all the Peruvians I am seeking to impact for Christ--some who are not saved and some who I am discipling. Christ can directly speak to them because they are reading the Word. That makes me want to say less of my words--especially since sometimes they can´t understand my spanish!
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