“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Growing up in the Catholic Church, we were not encouraged to read the Bible by and for ourselves. We were also not encouraged to think of our Saviour as our personal Redeemer. He was the Son of God, and what Jesus did on the cross could only be understood in terms of the ritual mass, which, technically, crucifies Him over and over and over again. My own experience of finally reading the Bible by myself, having direct access to God’s Word, is the basis for this article.
God’s Word says that His only begotten Son, the Christ, came to earth, in love, to shed His precious blood – once – and for all persons, everywhere, and for all time – to cover the sin of the world. When we believe this, and call upon the Name of the LORD, in the Name of Jesus, and repent of our sin, every transgression against the LORD Most High is atoned for.
Hebrews 9:12 “He did not enter by means of the blood goats and calves [Hebrew sacrifice], but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
Also, according to the psalmist, even the guilt of our sin is forgiven. “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD. And You forgave the guilt of my sin’” (Psalm 32:5).
So, if we are cleansed, once and for all, from sin by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice, why do we continue to read the Bible? Answer: The acceptance of our free gift of Salvation is only the first step of the journey home to our Sovereign God and eternal life with Him.
The Living Word of God is not only a guide to living in and for Christ, it is also a real help in times of trouble, a true solace for the broken-hearted, a source of joy and peace, and a guide to being the loving, productive human being God created you to be. Let me just say here, “I am sorry I didn’t discover all this about God’s Word sooner in life.”
Hebrews 4:12 tells us God’s Word is living and powerful. The living Word? Every time we read through the Bible, we discover something not noticed before, and it is usually something that has a significant message for our own life or the life of someone we love. Just one example of this: In 2017, I was told by doctors that I probably had Pancreatic cancer. Of course, I went to the LORD’s Word for comfort and for advice as to how to proceed. Deep inside, I felt pretty sure it was NOT cancer. The LORD seemingly concurred, leading me to Psalm 30, verse 5:
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
It was a short, memorable verse, and I lived in it for weeks. After two CT scans, two MRI’s, and enough bloodwork to fill a bath, it turned out I do have a 4-inch-long tumor in the pancreas, and it will likely be with me until I die. But it is not cancerous, as the passage of time well indicates. It has been eight years now. The prognosis for untreated pancreatic cancer is 6 months to a year.
Now, am I advising you to not listen to medical advice? In the words of Apostle Paul, “BY NO MEANS!” Have the tests, but do trust in the Word of God for comfort and guidance. Most of all, take the advice of Jesus and ‘DO NOT FEAR.’
Throughout the ordeal of 2017, there was never a moment of fear. At that time, I was 70 years old — the Biblical 3-score and 10. Knowing and studying the words of Jesus allowed me to celebrate that whatever He had in store for me was going to be amazing. If He was choosing to take me home, how could I not find joy in that? If He chose to have me stay here, that meant, to me, that my work was not yet done. More rejoicing!
Knowing we have eternal life in the LORD can provide freedom from fear and anxiety, and we who follow Jesus Christ need to keep this in mind. Keeping our minds firmly entrenched in His Word is the best way to achieve peace of mind, peace of soul, and even peace in our bodies.
Then, when our time does come to an end, we can embrace the inevitable last journey with a peace and joy that gives glory to our God.
Over the years, I have watched many people in the throes of death. Even if I didn’t know the people, I could tell which ones were Christian. They were the ones comforting those around them who were grieving. They were the ones giving thanks to the LORD in the midst of their pain. Their families were sad to watch the process but quietly rejoiced at their passing, knowing their loved one was firmly ensconced in the arms of The One Who loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son to atone for its sin.
In these last days of uncertainty, fear-mongering, and almost-universal deceit, pick up a Bible and immerse yourself daily in God’s Word. It is salve for your soul, peace for your mind, and comfort in the midst of the pain of living in a dying world.
One other word – John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Yes! Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Wonderful, isn’t it?
Love, grace, and peace to every reader, and all Glory to God!
MARANATHA
The post The Living Word of God Gathers Us to Him :: By Lynda Janzen appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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