Gen. 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good…”
We have looked at the Beginning and the End, the God Who is the Beginning and the End, this One Who would/should come to have first place in all things. And we looked at how He is on the move, always moving and hovering even when things seem formless and void, even in the midst of a dark sea of darkness. And then we come to the universe-altering truth of verse 3.
God said… and there was. God said… and it was so. God said… and it was so. God said…and it was so. What God says… will come to pass. What God says… matters. What God says… is incontrovertible. It cannot be overturned or countermanded. The Word of God. You can take it to the bank. If God said it, it is binding. This is the way of the universe. This is how He has wired it. Every nook and cranny and corner and crevice of creation responds to His Word. Obeys Him. Two notable exceptions: me and you…
Let’s not gloss over that sad truth. All of creation obeys God’s voice - except the ones He made to be like Him. His image bearers, you and I. Have you ever noticed the language God used when He first wrote down His commands for His people? You shall have no other gods. You shall not make any idol or serve other gods. You shall not murder. Etc, etc. You will not. You will not. Any English majors here? What is the tense and mood of that repeated verb? Future indicative. In other words, a future fact. God WILL fully supply. You WILL be persecuted. Every knee WILL bow. It is something which is guaranteed to happen in the future. You should expect it. And God has every expectation of His people paying attention to the things He says. To His Word.
The power of the Word - God’s Word, which created the LESSER power of the sun - and all the other stars. This was no kind of Hogwarts magic trick. This was no form of Marvel Avengers infinity stone dealio. This was no Star Wars jedi mind trick. This was pure raw omnipotence. Unlimited power, unleashed with glorious beauty and incomparable precision. God spoke the universe into existence out of nothing - by the power of His Word. God said… and it was so.
The fact of the matter is that God speaks. This God speaks. He is not some dumb idol, some mute molten image which is neither alive nor life-giving. He is alive, and He speaks. He communicates. This Author of life, He is the Author of speech, He Who is called - The Word. In the beginning was… The Word. And the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us. He is called The Word. He speaks and communicates, this is the very core of Who He is. And He has gone out of His way over the years to communicate to we-His-image-bearers, to make sure that His people recorded His Word, wrote down the things He said and the things He did and the things He commanded.
All Scripture is God-breathed, we are told (2Tim 3.16-17). We understand that this book, the Bible - these are the collected inspired words of God. All Scripture, all of God’s Word, is living and active, just as God Himself is alive. A friend of mine who is a former Muslim tells of his early encounters with the Bible, and how the words to him were clearly "not of this world". These words - they are out-of-this-world, other-worldly, heavenly, divinely-sourced. In fact, not one jot or tittle, not one little t-cross or i-dot will fail to be fulfilled, not one word will fail to come to pass or succeed in the matter for which God sent it.
Matt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” -Jesus
Is. 55:11 So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
We talked last week about the darkness, about those times, those chapters in our life where the darkness seems to be all over the surface of our deep, a dark sea of darkness. Note that the very first thing God speaks into existence is light. Surely this is no coincidence. God’s Word is the cure for our darkness. That’s exactly what David said: Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path (Ps 119.105). The unfolding of Your Word brings light (Ps 119.130). In Your light we see light (Ps 36.9).
Psa. 43:3 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
If darkness is over the surface of your deep, the Good Book, this book of books, is a great place to look… The fact of the matter is that God - Who is the Word - is light, by His very nature. In heaven, in the New Jerusalem, we are told that there is not even any need for the sun because God Himself is there and He Himself illuminates the entire place. Can you imagine what that will be like, the brilliance of His glory in that place?
Is that not why Moses had "horns" (word in Hebrew describing his face), why his face shone with such reflected brilliance after he came down off the mountain of God, because he had gotten a glimpse of the backside of God’s glory, he had taken a deep draught from the fountain of God’s blinding breathtaking goodness? His face shone - so much so that the people were afraid. It freaked them out! He had to wear a veil - which he removed when he went into God’s presence.
2Cor. 3:14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
What’s Paul talking about there? He’s saying that apart from Christ, before a person turns to the Lord, there is a veil over their heart which keeps them from being able to understand God’s truth. But once they put their trust in Christ, the veil is removed. Not only does the spiritual light come on in their hearts, but now they can go straight in to God’s presence, straight into the presence of Glory. Through His Spirit Who comes to live in our hearts, we have direct access. I remember what that was like, the day Jesus came into my heart. Suddenly I knew the One to Whom I praying! I was talking to my Father in heaven, calling Him “Father”. And suddenly God’s Word began to make sense. It was more than just a collection of some fuzzy old writings. These words meant something, and they were meant for me! The light came on!
So what are we saying? God’s Word is light, it is power, it is creative, it is true and sure and guaranteed. And it is neglected. Look at the early church. What does it say about them? The first thing we are told was true of them is what? They were constantly devoting themselves to what? To the apostles teaching. That’s this. The Word of God.
Look at how Paul describes the Thessalonians believers -
1Th. 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
We devote ourselves to things because we attach value to them - they thrill our soul, or they hold promise for some kind of profit. My concern is that the Word is way under-valued. Partly because it is truly an acquired taste. Like coffee. Jer 15.16 - I found Your Words and I ate them, and they became for me the joy and delight of my heart.
Let’s go back to that passage in 2Timothy. All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable… It is beneficial. It benefits you and me to invest time in it. It is worth it - more than we realize, I'm afraid.
2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is profitable - for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. In other words, what’s right, what’s not right, how to get right, and how to stay right. Teaching - what’s right, what is the good and right thing to do. Reproof - what’s not right, what is not good, what you don’t want to do. Correction - how to get right. And training in righteousness - how to stay right. What’s right, what’s not right, how to get right, and how to stay right. And so if we want to make gains in this area of right living, living in right relationship with God and His people and His world, we want to invest time in this Word which He has given to us.
2Tim. 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth.
Psa. 119:98-99 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies…I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
Peter puts it like this:
1Pet. 2:2 …Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…
Moses put it like this:
Deut. 8:3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
Daily bread. That was the idea behind the manna. That God’s people would learn to depend on Him and trust Him with every detail of their lives, including what they would eat, each and every day. But the bigger lesson behind the idea of “Give us this day our daily bread” is that our souls depend on a steady diet of God’s Word even more than our physical bodies depend on physical food. Like mother’s milk for a baby. As if your health and growth fully depend on it! The truth of the matter is that many believers are spiritually emaciated. They subsist largely on the leftovers they get from a sermon once a week. This was a problem in the early church:
Heb. 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
I think we want to try and imitate the example of the Bereans:
Acts 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
David sums it up quite nicely:
Psa. 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
A steady diet. It is our milk. It is our bread. It is our meat. It is our dessert. It’s a four course meal for our heart. It’s a smorgasbord for the soul. The heavenly version of "Golden Corral".
Look at Martha and Mary. Martha was doing good stuff, but she was so worried and distracted by her worldly to-do list. And what of Mary? Where was she? What was she doing? Sitting at the feet of Jesus, doing what? Listening to His Words… (and of course we know when our kids are actually listening to us when what…? When they do what we say…!)
I know what some of us are thinking. "It’s boring." "The Bible is boring." "I’ve already read it." "Been there, done that." Things are boring only when you don’t value them. But the more you study them, the more you learn about them, the more you can begin to value them. Especially if they are awesome!
How many of us intend to have lunch today and not eat again until next Sunday?
Be careful…
Deut. 12:28 “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
Josh. 1:7-8 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
Who here this morning doesn’t want some of that? Sign me up for some of that? Surely each of us has a vested interest in making our way prosperous and successful? Surely not one of us is interested in signing up for failure? This Book right here is the key. And it truly is a smorgasbord for the soul.
Let me give you a few tips which have really helped me.
•Carve out a time, and lock it in.
•Find a quiet place, no distractions.
•Begin with prayer. The Psalmist offers a good one:
Psa. 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.
•Prioritize the Word of God. Other books are fine in their place, commentaries, etc. But go to the Word. Begin in one of the Gospels, like John, or one of the shorter epistles, like Philippians.
•Slow down. Write. Re-write the verses. Diagram a verse. Outline a chapter. Write out questions, thoughts, observations.
Bon appetite!
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