All discoveries and interpretations of truth must conform to the Bible. Truth cannot be added to or taken away from the sixty-six books of inspired Scripture without distorting the truth of God. The canon of Scripture has been closed since the apostle John wrote the final book of Revelation. The Bible is unique in its authority and power to reveal truth.
Each believer will be held accountable for his/her stewardship of God’s Word. By the Holy Spirit’s power, we are to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess 5:21). The Holy Spirit teaches us how to test everything according to Scripture, then to hold on to what is good.
If you do not know God’s Word, you are easy prey for deception. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Guess who he targets?
My dad was a corporate pilot for Tenneco Oil Company in the 60’s to the 80’s. He flew to many different countries and often brought home exotic gifts and artifacts. One treasure that he was especially proud of was an artifact from Lima, Peru. I don’t know what it was, but it looked like a small, petrified piece of something important. My dad stored the artifact in a drawstring pouch in a safe place.
One day, when it was still cool to play outdoors, I decided to make an artifact. I found a small stone of East Texas clay, perfect for making a carving. In an attempt to give the artifact some artistic value, I carved a face, without much success. Oh well, good enough. It looked like an artifact.
Now, where should a person store an artifact? In a small, drawstring pouch, of course. Where could I find a drawstring pouch? Ummm… But what about the artifact that was already in the pouch? Hmmm… Oh well, why would my dad want to keep an ancient artifact from Lima, Peru when he could have an original "JKK" artifact from East Texas?
Many years passed and the substitution went undetected. Then one day, my dad began to reminisce with friends over dinner about his travels to Peru. In fact, he wanted to show them his ancient Peruvian artifact that was now even more ancient and valuable. Even I had forgotten my day as an artifact maker. We all sat admiring this small piece of red clay, as if it held some connection to the ancient past. Then I thought, “That looks strangely familiar.” And with growing unease of impending doom, I said, “Dad, turn it over.”
Finely engraved on the back of the red piece of clay were the initials: JKK. Jessica Kay Knoff, guilty of substituting the real thing for a piece of red dirt. Thankfully, my dad appreciated the humor more than his ancient relic.
Principle: God's Word is God's masterpiece. Study God's Word until you are able to easily identify worthless forgeries.
Let’s consider what happened next? Did my dad say, “You mean this is not the authentic, ancient artifact from Lima, Peru? Wow, I guess I did not actually go to Lima, Peru, after all.” No, the absence of the original artifact did not change the fact that my dad had traveled to Lima, Peru. And anyone who knew anything about ancient Peruvian artifacts would have immediately detected the forgery. My East Texas clay contraption did not even resemble a Peruvian artifact.
Principle: Distortion of original truth does not nullify truth.
Another quick illustration that is a bit more subtle…
On my first trip to Israel, I visited a place called the Garden Tomb. The site has been developed as a possible location of the crucifixion of Christ and the tomb where Jesus was buried. A tomb that dates to the Old Testament period is located at the site, and there is a cliff nearby that overlooks a modern crossroad, a logically conceivable location for a public crucifixion. The curators planted a lovely garden around the tomb for visitors to come, partake of the Lord's Supper, and meditate on the Person and work of Christ.
On a subsequent academic study tour of Israel, I learned that while the Garden Tomb site does contain an authentic Old Testament tomb, resembling the tomb in which Jesus was buried, the majority of biblical scholars and biblical archaeologists have dismissed the Garden Tomb as a possibility of the original tomb of Jesus because of its location in relationship to the ancient walls of Jerusalem.
Did I walk away from the Garden Tomb in disappointment and conclude, “Well, I guess that Jesus was not really buried in a tomb after all if this is not His tomb”? No, faith does not depend on ancient archaeological evidence, although the Lord is graciously uncovering much of biblical history in Israel, which testifies to the truth of Scripture and its inspired, inerrant record of the history of Israel and the revelation of Christ. Go to Israel to study God's Word!
Principle: Go to Israel to study God's Word, not to prove it.
The Bible records literal history of literal events in the lives of literal people that occurred in literal Israel and surrounding nations. Only through faith in Jesus Christ is the veil of unbelief taken away. "Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed" (2 Cor 3:15-16).
Presently, the ministry of the Holy Spirit testifies to the truth of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Only those who turn to the Lord will believe. The veil of unbelief is removed only through Jesus Christ.
Principle: Only through Jesus can one see God's masterpiece.
How do we know that the Bible is not the work of creative imaginations? To the glory of God’s sovereign grace and eternal power, God revealed His Word, God fulfills His Word, God preserves His Word, and God testifies to the truth of His Word by the Holy Spirit to those who abide in Jesus.
Conclusion: Turn to Jesus in order to see and believe.
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