"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
Paul states in 2 Corinthians 4:2 that he has “renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully.…” This statement was an indictment against those in Corinth who were leading people astray with false teaching and using the Word of God to advance their own agendas. The twisting of Scripture for selfish purposes has been a device of the evil one since the dawn of history. When Satan, masquerading as a serpent, tempted Eve in the garden, he asked her, “Has God really said that you cannot eat of every tree in the garden?” Satan wanted to insert doubt into the woman’s mind as to the trustworthiness, and indeed validity, of God’s command. Eve knew what God had commanded, and yet she still gave in to the temptation. Satan tried the same scheme with Christ in the wilderness, but our Lord did not falter. Instead, He recognized Satan’s perversion of the Scriptures and answered him with the truth.
If Eve, who knew and understood the Word of God, fell for Satan’s schemes, what about those in the church who don’t know His Word? Needless to say, they are at considerable risk. Yet, despite this risk, many professing Christians still refuse to study the Scriptures either because they are afraid to know the truth or because they are too lazy. Such neglect can only lead to their eventual downfall.
Another reason people fail to take seriously the teaching of Scripture is because they are repelled (oftentimes at a subconscious level) by the absolute quality of God’s Word. Many have become so accustomed to the relativism of our age, that they are more comfortable determining their own standards of right and wrong rather than submitting to the standard of God. But the Lord has said that those who seek their own ways, no matter how right they may seem at the moment, will only find death (Prov. 16:35). Only in the truth, only in the Word of God, the only standard of truth and righteousness, will we remain safe from Satan’s schemes. Like Christians in all ages, we must beware of deceitful men (2 Tim. 3:13). The only way to stand against them is to hold fast to the sound teaching of the Scriptures, “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
If you do not have a set time to study, not just read but study, the Scriptures, set a time now. It might not be every day, but make it consistent. If you do not have an in-depth Bible study, ask a friend or pastor to help you pick one out. Commit to being diligent to study the Scriptures at the specified time however often that might be.
