Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

HOW SOLID IS THE ROCK OF THE WORD?

“He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

Psalm 62:6.

It seems evident that the farther down the lane of time mankind travels the more marginalized the Bible, and those who adhere to its teachings become. The drive to supplant it with humanism, pseudo-science, and situation ethics is near its zenith, and reaping what has been sown has begun. This will significantly increase in the short span of time left in this age. So, a review of the Rock of the Word is always in order, but it is boldly underscored in these troublesome times. Consider with me for a moment.

The Bible is described as the “plenary, inspired, infallible Word of God.” Just what do these words mean? The term “Plenary” simply means “full, whole or complete.” “Inspiration” means “God-breathed” or that the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of the scriptures, allowing each writer to use his own words, but assuring that the writing was without mistake. “Infallibility” means totally without error or fault.

Truly, all of these things are absolutely true of the original autographs of the Holy Scriptures. While the Old Testament documents written in Chaldean and Hebrew remain with us in largely uncontested fidelity to original writings, there is much controversy regarding the veracity of several copies of the original autographs of the New Testament. A large collection (30 or more) of the most ancient copies have been compared. They coincide and are accepted as authentic. These grouped together are commonly referred to as the “Received Text” or “Textus Receptus.” The original documents themselves do not remain with us due to early persecution, manuscript burning, etc. Still, multiple copies of those documents do remain, many dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. But claims of “inspiration” and “infallibility” should not be applied to copies of those original documents, but to the message such copies contain. For instance, if a scribe should have transposed a number of a census or date of an historical event, it would not be a material error of the spiritual truths God imparted to man in the original documents.

The original languages should be studied, but to what degree then may our modern translations of the Bible, such as the Geneva Bible and/or the King James Version be trustworthy? The answer is totally. God has indeed preserved His marvelous truth for all generations, so that none having access to the holy pages may be excused from the knowledge so plainly and forcefully set forth. It is indeed an awesome responsibility to own a Bible! So, when we say, or read, that we believe in the “Plenary inspiration and infallibility of the scriptures,” we are saying that this description applies fully to the original documents. Furthermore, we affirm and have proven that our KJV is a correct presentation of God’s will for man as was doubtless set forth in the original autographs. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word abides forever. The Rock of the Word is solid!

FOR THOUGHT: How solid is the Word of God in your mind? Does the criticisms of skeptics make the Bible any less true or perfect? If the Bible is as true as learned scholars who are disciples of Jesus say it is, why do you think more people do not believe it? Bottom line: do you believe is the true word of the Creator to mankind?

I, EYE, AYE: THE PROBLEM

Some sage once said, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a terribly small package.” While most would agree, they must also acknowledge that this very principle is the primary cause of all the woes of the race. Think with me about this!

Luke 12:16-21 records the sad saga of a rich fool. He abounded in the richness of his day. His barns could hold no more. Did he seek to be helpful to others? No! He said to himself, “I” have no more storage room so “I” will pull down my buildings and “I” will build bigger ones. “I” will say “I” have much to last for many years so “I” will take it easy, eat , drink, and be merry. Alas, he died that night, and not having lived for the Lord nor invested in the lives of others, left his goods to the wiles of the world; truly a fool! His kind has not perished, but increased in the world: folks with “I” trouble.

Additionally, the temptation that succeeded in plunging the entire human family into sin was one of “I” and “eye” trouble. Mother Eve in response to Satan’s self-serving appeal, saw that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was beautiful to look upon (lust of the eye); she saw it was good for food (lust of the flesh through the eye); and she saw it was desirable to make one wise (pride of life) (“I” and “eye” trouble). There was no forethought here regarding the Word and the Will of the Creator; just “I.” Although that was nearly six thousand years ago, little children still sing out the warning, “O, be careful little eyes what you see….”

Enter Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He was allowed to build one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the magnificent Babylon with broad avenues, hanging gardens, and splendid structures. He said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (“I” and “Eye” trouble). He was judged immediately, and learned firsthand that these things were from, and for God. Daniel 4.

Finally, there is another form of that phonetic problem that plagues the people of God, and should be corrected by all means. It is revealed in the story of two sons, Matthew 21:28-31. A man directed one of his sons to go work in his vineyard. The son said “nay” (no), but he later did. To the other he gave the same direction, and that son said “aye” (yes), but never did. There are multitudes today who give acquiescent “aye” to the work of God, but never do it. They cannot imagine the enormity of the loss being incurred by such disobedience to their Heavenly Creator.

So, anyway you spell it, I, Eye, Aye, it is the sinful source of the ills of mankind in general, and of each individual in particular. May God help us to have a sweet spirit of truthful, and wholehearted surrender to the will of God Whom we all must soon meet face to face, and not be beset by the ages old, universal problems of “I, Eye, Aye.”

FOR THOUGHT: How many times have you been sidetracked from important opportunities due to “I, Eye, Aye” trouble? Has considering these things retrospectively made any change in your decision making propensity?