We live in deceptive times. Things aren’t always as they seem or we’ve been led to believe. For a variety of reasons or agendas many influencers like media moguls, journalists, broadcasters, editors, politicians, lawmakers, judges, intelligence experts, social media algorithm developers, healthcare professionals, celebrities and even alleged fact checkers choose to misinform, disinform, or censor instead of proclaiming the truth. Deepfakes, fabrications, distractions from the truth, half truths and blatant lies are dispensed daily and even strategically reiterated. Not only are lies being propagated, but they are received by people due to ignorance, gullibility, lack of critical thinking, or fear. Anxiety, depression, stress, delusion, dogmatism, and confirmation bias also make people susceptible to fake news. Although deception is pervasive, the truth exists and it can be discovered by the diligent and discerning. The fundamental and paramount truths that you need to combat deception and to grow and thrive are found in the Bible, God’s word.
The loving, eternal, almighty God who created and sustains the universe has revealed himself through Jesus, God the Son who became a man to show you what it means to know God and to live rightly with him. Jesus is the express nature of God–the living word of God (John 1:1-4, 14). You learn about Jesus by walking with him and studying what he said and did. God has given you the Bible as a love letter describing Jesus and how he created us, loves us, and wants to save us in order to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. Anyone who trusts and obeys God through Jesus, experiences new, abundant, and everlasting life. Anyone who denies Jesus will die and spend eternity in torment because they have chosen to reject God, the source of all that is good, right, and loving (John 3:16-21, 12:48). So studying the Bible is vital to living.
Here are various verses from the Bible which describe its unsurpassed benefits.
- God’s Word Saves Jesus taught, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). “For I am not ashamed of the gospel [the good news that Jesus saves], because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17). “For you [believers] have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
- God’s Word Guides “How can a young man keep his way pure, by guarding it according to your word…I have stored your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple…The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Psalm 119:9, 11, 105, 130, 160).
- God’s Word Equips “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).
- God’s Word Empowers Jesus taught, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:5-7). God told Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7-9).
- God’s Word Blesses “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times” (Psalm 12:6). “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers…for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction” (Psalm 1:1-3, 6).
- God’s Word Brings Hope and Purpose “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Jesus asked God the Father to set believers apart for his glory and their benefit. “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:17-18).
Embrace God’s Word
Given the life-changing power of God’s truth, here are a few passages, exhorting how you should respond:
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:21-22). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Conclusion
I pray that you can see the value of trusting and obeying Jesus as described in the Bible. Prayerfully reading it, pondering it, letting it renew your mind, and then applying what it teaches is the only way to be saved and to become all God designed you to be in Jesus. Centuries ago God taught the nation of Israel that, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). The same is true today. The word of God is like a sword which helps you guard against falsehood and live in truth (Ephesians 6:16). However, to wield it you need Jesus’ help. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one can come to God except through him (John 14:6). Make him your way, your truth, and your life. To anyone who desires to follow Jesus, God gives his Spirit to dwell in them, counsel them, correct them, enlighten them, train them, and empower them (John 14:26, 16:13). So if you want clarity, honesty, hope, happiness, stability, wisdom, and direction; if you want to best help yourself and others then cherish the truth in the Bible–cherish Jesus.