Loved ones, it’s quite obvious that if you are reading these words, you are alive. I believe we would all agree that the dead cannot read. And those that are alive are well aware that the ability to read is a vital need for our existence and well-being while we live on planet earth. We must be able to read to complete our education. It’s important to be able to read if we want to get a driver’s license, to get a job, to know what we are doing when we sign a contract in buying a home. We could go on for quite a while stating the importance of knowing how to read.
There are so many things to read in the world that obviously we can’t read them all. So, we choose what we want to read—magazines, history books, novels, etc. And then there is the Bible, God’s revelation to mankind that guides in our journey through life (Ps. 119:105). The Bible is similar to a roadmap that we would use to guide us on a long car journey from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast through the United States. We would keep the map before us and refer to it regularly to be sure we were on the right path to our destination.
So, when we are in school studying World History, what do we do with our textbook? Obviously, the student who wants to pass the course will read and study the textbook so he or she can pass the final exam when it comes. It would do no good to leave the textbook lying on the shelf gathering dust. Now, consider the Bible, the guide God has given to us to guide us through life’s journey. Note what John wrote in 1 John 1:1: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life.” Then note Paul’s statement in Philippians 2:16: “Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”
Do you remember the words Christ spoke to Satan when Satan tempted Him? “But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD'" (Matthew 4:4).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It’s obvious that if we want to pass our schools’ World History class, we would need to “be diligent” or “study” the textbook to absorb the information we would need. And it’s also quite obvious that if we wanted to safely pursue our journey across the United States from coast to coast, we would need to carefully follow the map that guides us.
A far greater journey takes place in our lives—a journey to eternity. If we want to arrive at the proper destination, heaven, then we need to give diligence to follow our guide—God’s Word. The Bible is RIGHT, but the Bible just sitting on the shelf gathering dust will not do the job. God is so good. Love you. Samuel – 26 July 2026
