"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"
Psalm 119:105.

Would you like to have to find your way alone through a dark forest at night without any light?

What would you think of someone who had a light, but simply did not take it along. In the spiritual realm that is exactly what many people do.

We need the light of God's word to guide our steps along a safe path in a dark and dangerous world. Without this light we cannot find our way. Many, however, make absolutely no use of this light of life that God has given them. They are like people driving their car at night without turning the headlights on.

And what about someone who goes into the forest at night, takes his flashlight along, but without batteries? These are people who have a Bible, but never read it. Of what value is a lamp without oil, or a flashlight without batteries?

For a long walk, we even need spare batteries!

Jesus told the story of five foolish virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom at night, but without taking extra oil (Matthew 25:1-13). There was oil in their lamps, but they had no reserves. At the crucial moment, their lamps started going out.

These are people who have a little knowledge of God's word, but not enough to reach the goal.

The word of God must dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16).

Peter wrote: "We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 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" (2 Peter 1:19-21).

The morning star must rise in our hearts. The word of God can give us light only from within. It is not sufficient to have a Bible on your bookshelf. The word of God must dwell in your heart. It must enter your mind through your eyes and ears. We do not have a slot for a Bible cassette on the top of our head. To have God's word in our heart we must listen to the word being preached, participate in Bible studies, and read the Scriptures.

We must know what the Bible says, but that is not sufficient. We must also understand the word of God. Paul prayed "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:17,18).

This spiritual understanding must control our lives: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:16,17).

What does it mean to do all in the name of the Lord?

Some people misapply this passage. They think they can do whatever they want as long as they say they are doing it in the name of the Lord!

To be done in the name of the Lord, our words and deeds must be in accordance with the word of God! That is why the word of God must dwell in us richly, so we can know what to do and what to say! Only then can we do all in the name of the Lord. Jesus warned: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

We must take spare oil along. God's word must dwell in us richly. And our deeds must be in agreement with that word.

We must walk in the light (1 John 1:6,7).

This also means that we must refrain from walking where there is no light! What if we walk in the dark, someplace other than where the light is shining?

Paul wanted the Corinthians to learn: "not [to go] beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6 ASV). In Isaiah 8:20 we read: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Peter commanded: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11).

What we do and say must be in accordance with the word of God. Otherwise we are like people walking where the light is not shining.

Light has no value for someone who is blind. He cannot recognize light and he does not benefit from light.

This also applies to the spiritually blind. Jesus said of the hypocritical religious leaders of His time: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matthew 15:14).

John warns: "But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1 John 2:11). Eyes without love are blinded to the light of God's word.

Ezekiel was told: "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 12:2). The eyes of the rebellious are blinded to the light of God's word. Rebellious people do not want to submit to the authority of God.

The word of God is authoritative and normative. This means that we must do what God says and we must refrain from doing what God does not prescribe.

Rebellion is a serious problem in Christendom. Denominations are rebellious. They use God's word only as a starting point. They do many things that are not prescribed in the New Testament, and they neglect to do what is prescribed. They just do what they want to do, or they follow their own tradition.

God's word is our pattern. Paul charged Timothy: "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13).

What is the result if one does not follow a pattern carefully? What if someone cuts out a dress haphazardly without accurately following the pattern? It will not be a presentable dress.

To be saved from sin by the grace of God you must obey "from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Romans 6:17). The word "form" here can also be translated as "pattern." The original text says literally "that form of doctrine to which you were delivered." The light does not follow us, we must follow the light.

God's word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. To walk in the light, we must know the Scriptures, we must understand the word, and we must do the will of God. We must walk in the light and refrain from walking where there is no light.

Roy Davison


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)