We read in the weeping prophet Jeremiah’s book, “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three of four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.” Later we find this weeping prophet to told to, “Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.” How sad to see someone treat God’s Words this way, but one wonders if some are doing this today with God’s Word.
We ought to understand that we cannot destroy God’s Word. There are passages that are standing as sentinels against such action. Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18-19 stand guard against anyone tampering with the inspired Words God has given. Some have tried in many different ways to destroy, cut up or disallow God’s Word. It cannot be done! No matter how many and how much they try. God has a copy of His Word safely tucked away that will be opened when all the world will be judged (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12). How have some tried to cut up, destroy or disallow what God has said?
One-way that some are trying to do this is by using the modern speech translations of God’s Word. It is getting so bad now a days that each religious group and their own translation to the scriptures. Many of these so-called-translations are not translations but mere commentaries at best. Some of them teach that one is born in sin (Ps 51; Rom. 8), some teach that divorce and remarriage can be over material unfaithfulness (Matt 5:32; 19:9); some even teach that you are saved when you hear the word of God (Eph 1:13 NIV). [That is even before one believes! Who will accept it, but that is what it says!]. Some of these modern speech translations allow the use of instrumental music in worship (Eph 5:19). I am not saying that we cannot use a good translation of the Bible but it must be a good translation, not what some men think the Bible says.
Another way that some try to cut up, destroy or disallow is by saying, “We are all going to the same place just by different directions.” There is several problems with this, one is John 14:6, Jesus said He was, “the Way.” How many ways are there? Another way of saying this is that there are different interpretations of the Bible. The Bible says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21). If one interpretation was as good as another why did Jesus say, “Ye have heard…” (Matt 5:21,27,33,38,43). If one interpretation were as good as another Jesus would not have said those words. We may have our interpretation of the Bible but unless it is in line with what God said then it is not the right interpretation of the His word and He is the only one that counts.
Another way we can make void, cut out, disallow or destroy the word of God is by our actions. A person can say many times they are a Christian but unless they are living the Christian life they are cutting up, voiding, disallowing and destroying what God said. Really when a person does not live up to what God said they are only doing what they want and not really what God wants. In 1 Corinthians 11:26 we find these words, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” We are, by partaking the Lord’s Supper, preaching a sermon. We are then by living a Christian’s life preaching a sermon. Notice Matthew 5:16 carefully, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” What does that mean? It used to be that there were certain television shows that would come on, on Sunday night and some would not attend evening services. What did this say to others? What is the most important thing in their lives? Entertainment or God? What about schoolwork or extra activities at school? Are they also to become before the services of the church? How long will your children be in eternity? How long will they be on earth? Which is the proper one to prepare for now? What do we do with passages that say we are to be “living sacrifices” to God? Do we want to cut them out? Do we want to disallow them? Do we want to make them void? I am afraid we are doing our very best to do that very thing. Who is to be number one in our lives? Would you say God? If I asked whom do you love, God or the devil which one would you say? What are you saying by your life? The Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind, This is the first and great commandment.” Again, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is worthy of me.” What are we preaching by our lives? Are we trying to gloss over passages that say, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Are we like the king of old, who took a penknife and cut God’s word into little strips and threw it in the fire thinking that it would not apply to him? God’s Word is still there and it still applies to him and it applies to us today even if we try to cut, destroy, disallow or make it void.
Love, Keith
