God’s Word is amazing and the desire to follow God’s Word is a blessing given to those who are filled with the Spirit of God. His Word is what cuts through every generation, every situation, every location, and every heart’s cry with a purity of truth that gives us peace, satisfaction, hope, and a vision for the days ahead. God’s Word is so final and so true that we cannot let the situations of our life change it in any way, shape, or form. No matter the situation, we can be sure that God’s Word will stand and shine through any darkness. It will stand the test of time and still come out pure and lasting. That is why we cannot try to dilute God’s Word by letting the situations we are going through dictate how we look at God’s Word. The writer in Hebrews said in Hebrews 4:12, “The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Be careful when someone who is sharing about God’s Word and from God’s Word says things like, “This is the best verse in the Bible” or “Here is what this scripture means to me today” or they try to put a certain scripture to make a point of theology for their thinking. The Word of God is living, but unchangeable and the situations of our lives should never minimize the overall pure message of the Word of God. In fact, that is how cults and sects are formed. A group of people’s situations match up and then they begin to dialogue and change the basic core meaning of Scripture to match their situation at the time. So…you guessed it. They make their own version of Scripture, so scoot over Charles Ryrie!! See how things can get out of hand? Never forget this. God’s Word is timeless!! When Jesus was quizzed by those who were “experts” of the law, He always answered with the authority of the Word, because He is the Word. Over time they had changed God’s Word to match their situations in time and the very purpose of the Word was changed and messed up. Jesus’ statements of profound, pure truth went far beyond what the leaders of the day were trying to live by. In the very first chapter of the Book of John it speaks to who Jesus is and who the Word is. They are the same, and those who want to follow Jesus must follow the Word of God because that is who He is. Almost sounds confusing, but it really isn’t. We make Christianity an empty shell when we take out the heart of the Word of God. Life and direction is discovered when the Word of God comes alive in our lifestyle and direction. Here’s a great picture of a believer learning from God. You rise in the morning, pick up your Bible and get alone with God. You come out of that time with life and direction and power. Here’s when that picture gets messed up. When you bypass God’s Word and get with other people who are doing the same thing and your situations cause you to form a teaching that will comfort you and make you feel better. But the sad part of that is that fellowship is built from situational human reasoning from flawed sources and God’s Word is lifted up, but not never high. Of all people, Jesus should have been the one to form the Word of God to fit His situation to make it easier on Him. But He didn’t. He lived the pure prophecy to the fullest and thus fulfilled the Word as the Word. That Word is what we believe in and follow, not according to how I feel at the time, but because of the purity of the Word.
Situational Theology is something that comes and goes with time and I know through my life I have seen and heard many different things that have caused many believers to take a path that is mostly man made and very little God and that is dangerous, especially now. Do not drift from who you know God to be, and who God’s Word says He is; King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Be that wise man! Trust in God’s Word and not the situations of your life. They will change, but His Word remains the same throughout eternity. I would hate to think that someone ever followed my teaching to the point that they based their faith on it. That place is reserved for Jesus and Jesus alone. He is everlasting and beyond compare.
The Pilgrimage continues….
David Warren