‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning’ (John 1:1-2). From this revelation by John, we get to see that the Word of God is not merely writings, but a personification of God. Jesus says, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven’ (6:v41). Of course He did not mean literal bread, but used that word to allude that He is the Word of God, because ‘man does not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Deuteronomy 8:3). And so Jesus expounds, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’ (John 6:35). Just like physical bread satisfies hunger, spiritual bread (the Word of God), satisfies the soul’s hunger. That is why Jesus says that if we learn from Him, ‘you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:29). Since the Word was with God from the beginning, no man can survive without it, because the Word is in fact God. Thus, the way our soul has been made is that it can only live once the Word of God penetrates deep into it by the channel of belief. In the absence of the Word, the soul remains in its dormant dead state. ‘Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’ (Isaiah 45:10). Likewise, rejecting God’s Word for whatever reason only brings woes, because it is synonymous to rejecting God.
‘For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of whom we must give account’ (Hebrews 4:12-13). The Word of God, Jesus, is alive and so the Word is living. Jesus even says, ‘Because I live, you will also live’ (John 14:19). Whenever one heeds to the Word of God, then they are guaranteed life eternal. They also come to life like the way Jesus did. When John sees a vision of Jesus, long after His resurrection, one of the descriptions of Him was, ‘out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword’ (Revelation 1:16). The impact of God’s Word to the human soul is like a sword because it penetrates deep enough to divide soul and spirit. It exposes the chasm between God and man by laying bare the corruption in man. Thus, when Jesus was born, Simeon a ‘righteous and devout’ (Luke 2:25) man says to Mary, ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that it will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’ (v34-35). Isaiah also prophesies about Jesus long before His birth saying, ‘He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears’ (Isaiah 11:3), because ‘the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7). Thus, when ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14), ‘He knew what was in man’ (2:v25). As a result, ‘Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in man’ (2:v24-25).
‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’ (Jeremiah 23:29). When Jesus spoke to two of His disciples after His resurrection, they did not physically recognize Him because ‘they were kept from recognizing him’ (Luke 24:16) by Jesus Himself. But something about His words made them think otherwise. It was only after Jesus disappeared from their sight that they asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’ (v32). When they burned within their hearts at the words of Jesus, they should have immediately acknowledged that it was Him, even though they did not recognize Him physically, but they did not. That is why, on their way, Jesus rebukes them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken’ (v25). Jesus knew that their hearts were convicted due to His words, but they did not believe that it was Him indeed, because they could not ‘see’ Him. They instead waited until they actually recognized Jesus with their physical eyes. The Lord, therefore, admonishes them because believing in the Word of God is tantamount to believing in God. Indeed, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ (John 20:29).
Peter writes, ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy’ (1 Peter 1:8). Whenever people hear the Word of God and feel convicted, they ought to believe because, ‘Fire goes before (God)’ (Psalm 97:3) and so His Word, which is Himself, will obviously be like fire – making one feel hot from head to toe, like flowing magma. Those who try to supress convictions do it in vain because a fire cannot be supressed too long. Jeremiah realizes this and says, ‘If I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot’ (Jeremiah 20:9). Elihu also notes, ‘For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wine skins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply’ (Job 32:18-19). Thus, the Word of God not only brings fiery conviction to our hearts, but also has the power to hammer down any barriers that prevent us from believing and taking action.
‘But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does’ (James 1:25). The Word of God is two-way. A person has to engage with it by looking at it intently, and then taking the requisite action. It is like a mirror which necessitates one to look carefully into and then make proper adjustments as needed. However, unlike a mirror, the Word of God does not merely reflect our shortcomings, but also guides us on how to overcome them. So, ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like’ (v22-24). When King Josiah was told that the Book of the Law was found, he had it read to him. ‘When the King heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes’ (2 Kings 22:11). Josiah did not merely hear the Word of God, but responded to it after it revealed Israel’s shortcomings. He said, ‘Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us’ (v13). He then sends his officials to Prophetess Huldah to enquire of the Lord on the way forward. She then sends word to the King from God saying, ‘Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people . . . and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord . . . Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place’ (v19,20). In the same way, when we respond to the Word of God, we will not see the disaster foretold in the Word, eternal condemnation.
‘Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path’ (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word guides us in our journey of life and to eternal life. It shines light to our path, helping us escape the darkened path of eternal damnation. Truly, ‘Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death’ (68:v20). Jesus emphasizes, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). By believing in Jesus and listening to Him, we acquire His light of life. ‘For with you is a fountain of life; in your light we see light’ (Psalm 36:9). Jesus, thus, urges, ‘You diligently search the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me’ (John 5:39). Jesus ascertains the authority of Scriptures, His Word, Himself. For ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Word makes one ‘wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3:15). So, no matter what one says or does, the authority of the Word is FINAL, because it is God. That is why God says that ‘my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me void, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11). So, whether we like it or not, the Word of God is the ONLY truth; ‘thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). And whether we believe it or not, the fact remains, the Word is God.
‘His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God‘ ~ Revelation 19:12-13
‘But I the Lord speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfil whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord‘ ~ Ezekiel 12:25
‘What I have written, I have written‘ ~ John 19:22
mulyale mutisya 