The Infallible Source of Authority!

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) ESV.

Did you ever stop and think about what the foundation of your life is? You must be building your life on some foundation, I assume. What is it? What is the source of authority in your life? You must have received what you believe from some source for sure. You don’t need a shaky foundation because, generally, such foundations fall to the ground. You need a firm and solid one to build your life. 

I can identify at least four foundations/sources of authority from which people normally draw conclusions. They are traditions, culture/majority opinion, reasoning, and feeling. 

Now let us look into the above categories one more time:

1.  This was how always been done in the past. In short, they say tradition dictates the truth. The person who would disagree with this foundation is none other than the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus said the religious leaders of his day do two things –they conveniently forget the orders of God and replace them with their petty rules handed down by traditions. Jesus said, “For you ignore God’s specific orders and substitute your own traditions.” Mark 7:8.

 

2. The next one is culture and the majority opinion. If you study the culture of communities from the beginning until now, you will discover that culture and customs always change over time. Yesterday’s culture and lifestyle have become out of date today. Culture changes and shifts over time. If you base your beliefs on the current culture and majority opinion, your foundation becomes unstable and potentially dangerous. You build your opinions on a shaky basis.

 

3. Does it make sense? Many people make a decision based on whether it makes sense to them. They depend on their heart’s intuition and understanding. However, your heart’s intuition and understanding could be faulty. Proverbs 3:5 says, “do not lean on your own understanding.” Bible also lists a time in Israel’s history when people went with their understanding in Judges 21:25, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This resulted in total confusion and anarchy. Going with the thoughts of our hearts is not a good idea because Jeremiah 17:9 says, “the heart is deceitful above all things.” Bible says in Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” You think it appears to be right. But the way leads you to destruction. You see, our understanding and reasoning could very well be faulty.

 

4. I live according to my feelings and emotions. Certainly, some people made feelings their foundation. They say if I feel good, that must be right. Watch out! Your feeling can be treacherous. David felt good the time with Bathsheba, only to regret the rest of his life. Samson felt good in the presence of Delilah, only to lose his strength and both of his eyes. Elimelech felt good leaving Bethlehem for Moab. However, the later tragedies proved his feeling and emotions led him to the wrong place. (Ruth 1).

Dearly beloved, your source of authority and foundation must not be any of the above. Today’s insight says your foundation or source of authority must be the words of the Scripture-the Bible. Listen! there are reasons why you must make your foundation the Word of God. First, all Scripture is breathed out by God. The source of the Bible is not human traditions, culture/majority opinion, reason, or feelings. Its source is God. The word of God is God-breathed. It is God-inspired. It came from heaven, from God. Second, the foundation of the word of God does not change over time. Psalm 119:89 says, “your Word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”1st Peter 1:23-25 says the Word of God-the Bible-is living and eternal. The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” Thirdly, all the Scripture-the Bible as a whole-is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. By reading, meditating, and obeying the Scripture, you would be completely equipped for every good work.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know many people draw their belief system from tradition, culture, reasoning, and feeling. However, you want me to base my beliefs on the infallible, God-breathed Scripture- the Bible. I commit myself to reading and to understand the Scripture you sent from heaven and using it for teaching, reproof, correction, and training. Make me complete and equipped for every good work by learning your Word. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”