T.G.I.M.

If I'm being honest, sometimes I get agitated and anxious by all of the "Christian" voices that surround our culture today and have even infiltrated the Church - this movement and that movement, this prophesy, that word, this best-selling book. How can one possibly know if anything anyone is claiming is true? I was thinking this morning about how the noise just seems to be getting louder and louder, and more annoying by the minute. 

I immediately thought of the character Christian in the Puritan John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. I went to look for my well-worn copy, and as I dug it out was thankful the book originally belonged to my sons' back in the day. 

However, Christian is anxious too and doesn't know what to do. The Evangelist gives him a roll of parchment to read that said, 

"Fly from the wrath to come." 

"But fly where?" 

"Do you see the distant wicket gate"? 

"No." 

"Do you see the distant shining light?" 

"I think I do." 

"Then follow the light. Knock on the gate. You shall be told what to do." 

"So the man began to run. Seeing him, his wife and children cried after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, "Life! Life! Eternal life!" 

When questioned by "Obstinate" and "Pliable" if he meant to leave friends and comforts behind? 

"Yes, answered, Christian, for that was now the man's name. Those are not worthy to be compared with what I seek. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that never fades away. It awaits in heaven, to be bestowed on those who diligently seek it. Read about it in my Bible." 

In the midst of all of the confusion and claims to Christianity in this day and age, we must run like Christian, like prodigal children seeing our Father in the distance running more vigorous toward us than us to him. With our fingers shoved into our ears drowning out the clamor of false ways and the voices begging us to return to the slop, we must focus on the light and be assured that we will, in deed, arrive at the truth. 

It's a jungle out there. 

And this is the Scripture I want to share; it's the Apostle Paul in his last letter before his execution by Nero to young pastor Timothy. When a person knows they are about to die, I believe they will leave us with what is closest to their heart. And Paul knew a thing or two about suffering and living in the midst of a world gone mad. 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ( 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 ) 

Paul is saying to Timothy and to us that God's Word - the sacred writings - are enough. They are sufficient. In other words, if I don't ever hear a word from God outside of the Scriptures, I won't be incomplete because he promises that his Word completes me. 

This doesn't mean I don't listen to my brothers and sisters in Christ or wise counsel from trusted mentors - I think this passage speaks into that for itself. 

And for the love of all that is good in this world, "test the spirits" and "weigh the prophecies." ( 1 John 4:1, 1 Thess. 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 14:29 ) Examine the theology and character. ( Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 4:1-6 ) God gives sobering and scary warnings in Scripture to those who speak a word that he did not speak. ( Deuteronomy 13, 18, Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:9, Matthew 7:21-23, this is just the tip of the iceberg. ) Of course, we don't put false prophets to death today, but that does inform us of just how serious it is to God to speak a word for him that he did not speak. Be careful. 

But what this passage in 2 Timothy does mean is that I won't fail in God's purposes for me if I don't listen to the latest prophecy so I "can know how to be prepared for what's coming" ( hint: read the Book of Revelation ) or buy the latest "Christian" book or purchase the author's set of CDs for three easy payments. 

Psalms 119:105 tells us that God's Word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path, not anything else. 

And the Apostle Peter instructs us, interestingly also right before his death, not to even look to the fact that he was on the holy mountain top with Jesus and saw his glory. He uses this glorious experience to testify that the Resurrection is real, that what he and the other apostles are proclaiming is true. We can believe them - they were there. 

But he points us not to the experience for our nourishment and completion, but to "the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts knowing first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." ( 2 Peter 1:16-21 ) 

Why would we ever want to take someone else's word, be it the latest movement or whatever, over the prophesy of Scripture produced by God himself? 

This week, my Friend, stick your fingers in your ears if that's what it takes to quell the clamoring voices and focus on the objective Truth, the Holy Word of God Almighty, that promises it alone is sufficient to see you through.  

And run like a wild child toward the arms of your Father. 

"follow the light" 

"Life! Life! Eternal life!"

"Read about it in my Bible."

Happy Monday! 

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter to our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." ( Hebrews 12:1-2 )