Most Christians love and respect the word of God, the Holy Bible. They might possess number of copies of the scripture in various languages, apart from the digital versions they have in their electronic devices. Today reading and understanding the Bible became so easy because of these modern gadgets. Yet carefully notice the life of a believer, it seems the scripture do not have any effect in their lives as it ought to be.
What is the reason why the word of God fails to influence Christians for better and induce transformation in spite of such exposure to the Bible more than ever? Good to consider following five possible reasons:
1. A hardened heart. Jeremiah 4:3
"Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.”
“Fallow ground” refers to a land where no cultivation took place for a long time. It’s not plowed, broken and soft. Such a land is not only hard, but also allows all kinds of thistles grow. What is the use of sowing in such a plot? Hos. 10:12; Matt 13: 7, 22. A broken and prepared heart is basic for divine work in an individual.
2. Sin. 1Peter 2:1, 2.
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..”
“Lay aside all malice” – secret sin disturbs God’s work. If we cherish any evil or even anything that God hates like pride, covetousness, etc., the Spirit of God is grieved. God cannot work in such a life. Affection for worldly things also disrupts God’s work in us. Matthew 13:22. Such will struggle to see the word having any impact in their life.
3. Unbelief. Hebrews 4:2.
“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
The Word of God did not profit the Israelites because of their unbelief. They of course heard, but not with faith.
4. Disobedience. John 7:17.
“ If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine... ”
If one is not willing to obey the word that God enlightened, He will stop giving further understanding of the scripture. “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Proverbs 4:18. As one progress in obedience, the scripture become clearer to him.
Consider the condition of the many so-called evangelical Christians today. Unashamedly and unhesitatingly they imitate the lifestyle of unbelievers around them and become blind and deaf to the plain teachings of the word of God. Many are even ready to take back what their forefathers rejected as unworthy for God’s people.
5. The wrong approach to the scripture.1Cor 2:14
“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Another reason why we fail to benefit from scripture could be our wrong method. We should never forget that the Bible is not a secular book. We cannot comprehend it in our own intelligence and ability. There are many who try to study Bible intellectually and even they earn credit for it.
However we should bear in mind that since the scripture has come from God’s heart, we need His own help to grasp the real meaning of it. Cf. 2Timothyh 3:16; 2Peter 1:21. Of course, one of the major works of the Holy Spirit who indwells in a Christian today is to teach him every truth. John 14: 26; 16: 12 – 15.
One needs to approach the Bible with the full conviction that it is God’s word for his own profit. That realization should prompt him to honor it and prayerfully take in the word with all eagerness. Then he will begin to taste the sweetness of the truth, find an increased appetite for it and subsequently manifesting a change and progress in his spiritual life.
It must be applied
A soap manufacturer was talking with a Christian. Said the soap maker, “The Gospel you preach hasn’t done much good, for there’s still a lot of wickedness and wicked people.”
The Christian made no immediate reply, but they soon passed a child making mud pies. He was exceedingly dirty. It was then the Christian’s turn and so he said “Soap has not done much good in the world, I see for there is still much dirt and dirty people.”
“Oh, well”, answered the manufacturer, “soap is useful only when it is applied.”
“Exactly”, was the Christian’s reply. “So it is with the Gospel we proclaim.”
The message of the Gospel indeed the greatest message this world has ever known. It is God’s own message proclaiming salvation freely to every sinner who comes to Him thorough Christ.
However, the salvation from sin that the gospel brings will never be yours until you believe for yourself.
