Our TVs are flooded with stories about corruption, lies, broken promises, hypocrisy, immorality, sanctimoniousness, wife assaults and other kinds of assaults.  In politics, sports, business life, church life, among the well-dressed legislators in various parliaments,  and even in royal circles. The Bible doesn´t exaggerate when it solemnly makes the all inclusive statement, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”   1 John 5:19.

A paraphrase renders Psa. 12:1 this way, “Lord, help!  Where in all the world can dependable men be found?”  I often dwell on that very Psalm for the simple reason that it doesn´t only expose the deceit and corruption of man´s fallen nature, but it also show forth the glorious purity of God´s word.  “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”  (v. 6).

As born again Christians we still have within us that corrupt nature which the Bible calls “the flesh”.  It cannot be improved nor removed.  The apostle speaks about “sin that dwells in me” (Rom. 7:20), i.e. the old sin nature.  No child of God is exempted from that painful fact.  “If we say we have no sin (that is:  no sin nature), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  1 John 1:8.  Is truth in you?  Then you will also concede with Paul that “I know that nothing good dwells within me.”  Rom. 7:18.

This is not – praise God - the whole truth, however.  All born again children of God have also become “partakers of the divine nature”  (2 Pet. 1:4) imparted to us by the Holy Spirit.  That explains the non-stop conflict within us, sometimes described as “two dogs fighting with one another”.  The winning dog will be the dog we choose to feed.  To be fed by the pure word of God is really the practical way of victory.  See also Psa. 119:9. 

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation.”  1 Pet. 2:2.  (As you know, “salvation” has in the Bible 3 meanings:  The initial eternal salvation received by grace when we trusted Christ, - the practical, experienced and ongoing salvation when the word of God is applied, - and the final salvation when our bodies are for ever redeemed and transformed.)

Is your relationship to the Bible an everyday experience?  C.H. Spurgeon:  “I like to open the Bible and pray, “Lord God, let the words leap off the page into my soul;  make them vivid, powerful, and fresh to my heart.”  Let this be our humble prayer also!

-jn-


Nov. 25, 2009