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WHO
WROTE THAT?
By Marilyn LaStrape
From time to time God blesses me with the opportunity to
speak at ladies’ retreats, ladies’ days, seminars, and
workshops. I was on one of these speaking engagements when
the couple who was my host told me about an incident with
one of the members of the congregation.
The lady was
a widow at the time, and was about to marry a man who was
NOT a member of the Lord’s church, or a member of anything
religious. He had been married before and had lived with
other women as well, out of wedlock. At this time he was
living with this particular sister in Christ.
The elders
called the sister and her friend into visit with them about
this situation. The elders tried to get into their home to
study from the Bible about their situation; however, they
would not agree to that. This elder opened his bible and
read I Corinthians 7:39, which reads, “A wife is bound by
law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies,
she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in
the Lord.” He said, “I believe that verse means what it
says, a widow is free to marry but only to a man who is a
member of the Lord’s church.” At that point she asked very
nonchalantly, “Ah, who wrote that?” Not too often was this
elder caught speechless, but that almost did it.
It is truly
amazing to hear the responses given when we are confronted
with what the Bible says. In order to justify our position,
there are virtually no limits to the bounds to what we will
say or do!
Did this
sister have a valid question, or was she seeking to justify
her position and the lifestyle she had chosen? Giving her
the benefit of the doubt, there most certainly is an answer
to her question and all other questions like that.
The word of
God addresses this issue of “who wrote that?” Psalm 119 is
a treatise on the word of God – the commandments, statutes,
testimonies, precepts, judgments, ordinances, laws, way,
truth, word, and righteousness.
- God’s
commandments are orders that provide the comprehensive
boundaries of obedience and submission. (Psalm 119:10-11)
- God’s
statues are His instructions that are marked, traced
out, and fixed. (Psalm 119:117)
- God’s
testimonies are His truth that is solemnly declared to
the world. (Psalm 119:2)
- God’s
precepts are His rules which have been prescribe to
us. (Psalm 119:104)
- God’s
judgments are His regulations that enable us to
determine right over wrong and to act accordingly. (Psalm
119:75-76)
- God’s
ordinances govern and rule. (Psalm 119:89-91)
- God’s
laws direct, guide, teach, and show us what is right
and what is wrong. (Psalm 119:142)
- God’s
way demands that we walk in obedience to His
prescribed manner of life. (Psalm 119:30)
- God’s
truth is settling to make steady and constant because
He cannot lie. (Ps. 119:151)
- God’s
word is the entire body of divine and inspired
revelation. (Psalm 119:89 & 160)
- God’s
righteousness reveals His holiness to do justice
because His righteousness is all holy, just and good.
(Psalm 119:172)
For us to
have the respect, submission, and commitment to what the
Bible says, we must have some degree of understanding of who
God is and how He thinks and deals with us. God deals with
us based upon our attitude and commitment to the truth, not
what we want or think we ought to have! God speaking of
Himself said, “Remember the former things of old, for I am
God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like
Me.” (Isaiah 46:9) God also lets us know He does not
think the way we do. “For My thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher
than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:8-9)
“Who
wrote that” regarding the conditions under which a
re-marriage can take place? Holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit. This is made clear in II
Peter 2:20-21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy
never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
“Who
wrote that” in regard to how we are to live our lives in
accordance with God’s will? “All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for
every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)
“Who
wrote that” which states God’s word is the first and
last authority? “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield
to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His
words; lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar.”
(Proverbs 30:5-6)
“Who
wrote that” which says, what if there is a difference
between what we believe and practice and what the Bible
says? We are the ones who are wrong and we will always be
wrong!! Paul makes that very clear in his letter to the
church in Rome. “For what if some did not believe? Will
their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Certainly not! Let God be true but every man a liar.”
(Romans 3:3-4a)
God’s word
is our guide to abundant living. Jesus said, “I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly.” (John 10: 10b) That abundant life Jesus
speaks of is in the “here and now.”
When any truth from the word is brought to our attention,
the only appropriate response is submissive obedience.
God’s word is designed to affect our emotions and regulate
our will. The apostle Paul said, “For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing
every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
(II Corinthians 10:4-5) When we are living our lives in
submissive obedience to the Bible, we will never ask the
question, “Who wrote That?"
This
article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the
author.
©Copyright 2004
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