Since that occasion when Satan entered the Garden of Eden deceiving Eve, his presence and influence has ever been a dominate factor in the world in which we live. Make no mistake here, the devil is alive and well today and is still attempting to exert his influence in the lives of people just as he did in Eden long ago. His desire is to destroy and he will use any and all means to accomplish his goal. Hence, the warning of Peter should be ringing in our ears causing us to be very cautious as we make our journey down the pathway of life. There are so may ways the devil seeks to devour men today but I believe with all my heart that there is a way he uses from which springs all of the tricks of the trade he pursues. What is that way? Simply put, it is to cheapen the word of God (the bible) in the minds of people.
The devil works overtime in the effort to convince men that the Bible is just another good book in a long line of good books. He whispers into our ears that it makes for good reading but we don't really have to obey its precepts and commands. It's ok to read it, just don't believe it because God doesn't really mean what he says. I wonder how Adam and Eve would respond to that (Gen. 3). How do you suppose Nadab and Abihu would respond (Lev. 10) or King Saul (1 Sam. 15). I know how Paul responds—2 Thess. 1:9-11. I know how John responds—2 John 9. I know how Jesus responds—John 14:15, 15:14, Mark 12:30.
We live in a land of Bibles. It would be difficult to know just how many bibles are in existence today. I venture to say that most of us have several bibles in our homes. Yet, it is a lost book because the devil has had great success in convincing people that it is not an important book. "O, I have a bible". Is it covered with dust? Where is it" One time while visiting in the home of a young couple, the man said he had a bible question for me to answer but wanted to get his bible before asking the question. He left the room and I kept hearing him say, "where is it? He searched for a long time, looking in every room and finally found his bible in a linen closet under a stack of towels. Friends, a bible not used is a useless book!! A bible sitting on a crowded bookshelf with a lot of other unused books is useless. A bible sitting in a prominent place in the room to be seen, not used, is useless. I wonder, what does your bible look like? Are its pages still as crisp and clean as the day you bought it or are the pages worn, dog eared, with little notes scribbled on them? The devil has convinced many that they have time for the newspaper, magazines, television, mystery books but no time for the word of God.
Friends, the home robbed of the book of ages is a home where there will be ignorance where there should be understanding (Acts 17, 2 Tim. 2:15. It is a home where there will be uncertainty where there should be certainty (1 John 3:19, 24—1 John 4:4, 13—1 John 5:2,13). It is a home in which there will be confusion where there should be peace (Phil 4:6-7). It will be a home in which there will be weakness when there should be strength ( Eph. 6:7, 1 Cor, 16:13). It will be a home in which there will be trust in man when there should be reliance on God (Psalms 118:8, Isa. 12:2, Acts 4:19, Acts 5:29).
Every false doctrine taught and believed in the realm of denominational religion today has its root in the fact that the devil has been able to cheapen God's word in the minds of men. Think not that the Lord's church is exempt from this cunning trick of the devil (Acts 20:29-30, Gal. 1:6-9). For some strange reason, some of my brethren seem to think that they can improve on what God has given us through his inspired word as evidenced by a great wave of liberalism with its changes and innovations. Guard your heart diligently lest the devil devour you with his cunning teaching.
Charles Hicks
No comments:
Post a Comment