 |
|
| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
Page 9 |
|
|
| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
Page 9 |
They Searched the Scriptures
Johnny O. Trail
In the mid 1800’s, Hans Gustafson, a well-known glass blower from Germany, became alarmed at the number of homes that were being destroyed by fires during the Christmas season. In an age prior to artificial trees, people used live trees that were cut down and placed in homes for Christmas decorations. These trees were adorned with candles to make them light up in the late evening and nighttime hours. As a result of the tree continually drying, the trees would sometimes catch fire and destroy entire houses.
Gustafson sought to provide a remedy for this serious problem. He determined that glass could be blown into globes and placed on trees as decorations. The issue he had to address was the weight of the glass globes that he created. Gustafson created a process whereby the globes could be blown and designed in such a way that the glass was extremely thin and lightweight, making it easier to hang on a Christmas tree. Today, an original Gustafson hand-blown ornament is worth millions of dollars and is much sought by collectors.
At this point, the reader needs to know that the previous two paragraphs were entirely made up. The words were fabricated to make a point about research and taking someone’s word for fact without any investigation. If I had not revealed the falsity of the first two paragraphs, some might have shared this information with others and claimed it to be true based on simply trusting the writer. To be fair, I make every attempt to be truthful and accurate in any writing I produce. If I make a mistake, I correct it and offer apologies when needed.
Most responsible adults check and double check things that are important and things that have value in their lives. When one leaves home for a vacation, it is not unheard of to ask the neighbors to keep an eye on things. In an electronic age, many will check their bank statements many times a day to make sure their money is being handled correctly. Yet, when it comes to a person’s immortal soul – the most valuable thing he possesses – he is willing to take someone else’s counsel on the matter with absolutely no investigation. Most reasonable people would not act accordingly with their finances or other valuable things.
This also exposes a fatal flaw that one readily observes in our society. Many people make accusations or statements without fully knowing or understanding the facts of a situation. In an effort to break the story, news outlets will make broadcasts about newsworthy reports as the information becomes available, and they leave gaps, introduce inconsistencies or offer half-truths in reporting without any continued effort to arrive at valid, verifiable conclusions. This results in riots, destruction of property and false accusations being leveled at innocent parties.
To this end, the entire truth regarding a situation or scriptural examination needs to be revealed and studied (Psalm 139:17). The apostle Paul saw the proclamation of the whole truth as tantamount to helping the Ephesian elders combat the apostasy that was about to impact their congregation. Acts 20:27-29 says:
For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (NKJV)
The truth Paul preached would enable them to refute and to overcome the false teachers who would attempt to corrupt the church at Ephesus.
One marvels at the lack of provisions that are made by many in our society to determine if they are on the right path spiritually speaking. Philippians 2:12 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Each person is accountable for his soul’s safety, and salvation is not something that one should take for granted.
Scripture makes it plain that false teachers will teach perversions of the truth. Note what 2 Peter 2:1-3 has to say.
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
If one does not examine Scripture to arrive at the objective revealed truth, how will he know the difference between truth and error?
Furthermore, Scripture lauds the actions of the Bereans because they studied God’s Word to affirm the message of Paul and Silas. This was the case even in light of the fact that Paul was a man inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in Acts 17:11, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” As a result of their study, many of them were obedient to the Gospel (Acts 17:12). They did not merely take Paul’s word for the truth, and Luke, in writing Acts, applauded them for examining the matter by searching the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
All these things make it abundantly clear that one should never accept any teaching regarding God’s Word without examining it for himself. Hopefully, the message proclaimed will mesh beautifully, completely and wholly with God’s Word. Do not take what any human being says regarding Scripture as truth if it cannot be backed by the Bible. To do so might imperil your soul.
