May 9, 1906

Our Great Treasure-House

A Failure to Study and Teach God's Word—Part 7

EGW

It is God's plan that old and young shall study His Word. This is necessary for intellectual and spiritual growth. God would have all realize that the truth is capable of expanding and increasing in grace and power. The student of the Word finds that an effort to comprehend truth calls forth all his powers. The truth is broad and deep and high. Were it otherwise than this, it would not be the truth. But its clearness is equal to its depth. Upon those who search the Scriptures, the truth found therein has an elevating, ennobling influence, enabling them to reach the standard of perfection.ST May 9, 1906, par. 1

But much ignorance of God's Word prevails, even among those who are themselves dull of comprehension. They do not bring the truth into the inner sanctuary of the soul. It is not a living reality to them, because they do not practise it. It has not been digested and converted into spiritual muscle and sinew.ST May 9, 1906, par. 2

Many who claim to believe the Bible do not eat the heavenly manna. Light shines upon them, but it is not appreciated. Many refuse to accept the light that God sends from heaven because it does not justify transgression of the law. They close their eyes, for fear that they will see and be converted.ST May 9, 1906, par. 3

Resulting Lack of Faith

Thus it was in the days of Christ. The leaders and teachers of Israel were powerless to resist the work of Satan. They were neglecting the only means by which they could have withstood evil spirits. It was by the word of God that Christ overcame the wicked one. The leaders of Israel professed to be the expositors of God's law, but they had studied it only to sustain their traditions, and enforce their man-made observances. By their interpretations they made it express sentiments that God had never given. Their mystical construction made indistinct that which He had made plain. They disputed over insignificant technicalities, and practically denied the most essential truths. Thus infidelity was sown broadcast. God's Word was robbed of its power, and evil spirits worked their will.ST May 9, 1906, par. 4

History is repeating. With the open Bible before them, and professing to reverence its teachings, many of the religious leaders of our time are destroying faith in it as the Word of God. They busy themselves with dissecting the Word, and set their opinions above its plainest statements. In their hands God's Word loses its regenerating power. This is why infidelity is riot and iniquity is rife.ST May 9, 1906, par. 5

Incoming Delusions

When Satan has undermined faith in the Bible, he directs men to other sources for light and power. Thus he insinuates himself. Those who turn from the plain teaching of scripture and the convicting power of God's Holy Spirit are inviting the control of demons. Criticism and speculation concerning the Scriptures have opened the way for Spiritualism and theosophy—those modernized forms of ancient heathenism—to gain a foothold even in the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.ST May 9, 1906, par. 6

Side by side with the preaching of the Gospel, agencies are at work which are but the medium of lying spirits. Many a man tampers with these merely from curiosity, but seeing evidence of the working of a more than human power, he is lured on and on, until he is controlled by a will stronger than his own. He can not escape from its mysterious power.ST May 9, 1906, par. 7

In our day, as of old, the vital truths of God's Word are set aside for human theories and speculations. Many professed ministers of the Gospel do not accept the whole Bible as the inspired Word. One learned man rejects one portion; another questions another part. They set up their judgment as superior to the Word, and the scripture which they do teach rests upon their own authority. Its divine authenticity is destroyed. Thus the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast; for the people become confused, and do not know what to believe. There are many beliefs that the mind has no right to entertain. In the days of Christ the rabbis put a forced, mystical construction upon many portions of the Scriptures. Because the plain teaching of God's Word condemned their practises, they tried to destroy its force. The same thing is done today. The Word of God is made to appear mysterious and obscure in order to excuse transgression of His law. Christ rebuked these practises in His day. He taught that the Word of God was to be understood by all. He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we should do the same. The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God, as the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith.ST May 9, 1906, par. 8

The subject of Christ's teaching was the Word of God. He met questioners with a plain, “It is written;” “What saith the Scriptures?” “How readest thou?” At every opportunity, when an interest was awakened by either friend or foe, He sowed the seed of the Word. He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Himself the living Word, points to the Scriptures, saying, “They are they which testify of Me.”ST May 9, 1906, par. 9