There's More to Sight than Seeing

[HKHaugan]

The Word 8

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Mt.4:4).’”

As we have said already, when God speaks, whether it is a single word or many, there is more than a written symbol or spoken sound coming through. Be it the creation of night and day, the universe and people or a language, each segment carries the full impact of God’s character, intention and attitude. When John said Jesus was the Word He was saying the source of all existence is what gives meaning, significance and purpose to every atom physically and every person spiritually. Therefore every word issuing from the Word Jesus is life giving, life sustaining and life creating in every next moment. Thus the Bible is more than the ink, paper and cover. It carries the loaf, crust and nutrition necessary to restore, recover and remold every image of God.

Man does not live solely on what sustains his body, but on the purpose for which it as created, to be an open, loving, productive personal image of God. Being an image of God is to express His fuller language of character, attitude and creativity. So the sounds we make should echo Him in what can be seen, heard, felt and shared. That is why the only secure and sure method of personal growth and eternal knowledge is Scripture, His gift of revelation about Himself. All other knowledge is supplementary and fits in the place He designates. All science, philosophy, ethics, politics, education, religion, social and psychological interaction and the research in each field when seen through His Word find an endless variety of possibilities for growth and productivity. This is because as Creator He enables us, no, more than that, encourages us to go as far as we can knowing that He is behind us.

Forget religious history for a moment with all its inquisitions, wars and divisiveness and consider the Lord Jesus, who He is and what He says. In Him there is the freeing of one’s mind and heart through relationship. When that personal stability and confidence to reach beyond one’s self is found He is the One who brings that about in us. He is not about religion, denominations and institutional structures. He is about you and me, each one of us, where and what we can become in Him. He is not only the word for the day, He is the Word for every breath and word we say and are. When we accept His leadership and direction He actually empowers each of us to see far beyond, not only to survival but to exciting possibilities, potential, new and unique experiences that build the humanity of both believer and non-believer alike. Everyone benefits.

What the above Scripture verse introduces is an endless universe of personal awareness and understanding. When Jesus said those words to the devil in the wilderness He was not only rebuking him He was setting the future hope of all mankind’s potential in motion. Once a person knows his source he has a stable platform upon which his eternity is built. Everyday carries truth for the mind, a way for the heart to respond and a life reaching out that is given when we engage ourselves with Him completely. Scripture is the visible vessel for the invisible treasure it holds. It is a sacrament in itself. Every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, chapter and book reveals something of the fullness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Every part of Scripture is a waiting feast for spiritual connection to God and relational growth He provides for family and those around us in the world.

There are a number of ways the Lord makes personal sense through Scripture.

First, when you read a verse or study its context the Spirit brings an insight for the mind that allows an evaluation of a circumstance you might be going through. You know a choice has to be made for a word to be said or something that needs doing at that moment.

Second, that insight calls for each of us to evaluate in our heart where we really are at the moment we receive it in terms of our relationship to one another and the world we work in. The spiritual insight we get tells us about our fear, our willingness and our character. Each insight is self-revealing.

Third, we realize that we have to act knowing our action sends a picture of who we are within. If Jesus is our foundation for being a person, then we act in the assurance His direction, His Word, is our word, our being as we move out. Even as I write what I am thinking of myself is being challenged to do and risk more. Old fears emerge; old thoughts and past actions drift through a hazy memory but there in the midst stands the Lord Jesus clearly risen above the world of confusion and insecurity. He touches my mind and moves my heart. Out of myself I go, toward Him, as He says, “Follow me.”

When we see Scripture as the written Word from the living Word, it and He are our security for everything we think and act out. They stimulate the kind of trust that we discover is the nature of eternal life. But even more importantly, it is the Word for now because eternal life is the abundant life He tells us is now.