It has always amazed me how biblically illiterate most gameshow contestants were on “Jeopardy." For most of these folks exhibited great intelligence in regard to questions concerning literature, science,entertainment, history, etc. However, when a question about the Bible was asked, it seems like there were only blank stares offered, and these questions were often elementary. I believe that this illiteracy is not limited to these contestants, but are sadly indicative of our nation's ignorance of God's word.
God wants us to be people of the Book; that is, to be eager students who know and do the truth. To the Jews under the Old Covenant, God had Moses write these words that would govern everyone's home: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NKJV).”
Christians under the New Covenant are commanded to Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). This can only be accomplished through daily study of our Bibles. However, biblical illiteracy not only typifies the heathen, but also (now at home) who claim to believe in God. In earlier times, a Bible might be placed on the coffee table in the living room, but it was rarely opened. Today Bibles have been moved to nightstands in bedrooms, but they fare no better there. Some have the Bible on their smart phones, but it usually loses out in competition to email, social media, and games.
God warned his people long ago of their great peril due to biblical illiteracy. The prophet Hosea, speaking for God, wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children (Hosea 4:6). The people in Hosea's day became idolaters, and though God loved them, their turning away from him and his word led to their destruction, as they were destroyed and led into captivity by the Assyrians. Today, some love the things that are in the world more than they love God (cf. 1 John 2:15). But the world is passing away (1 John 2:17)”. Then what will they have?
May we take heed to the inspired word Paul wrote to the Colossians: “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:5-7)”. As Paul was proud of the Colossians progress in the faith, so will our elders, parents, and others be of us if we do the same. Let's give our attention to reading (1 Timothy 4:13). Brotherly, Jamie
