Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Adrian Rogers
Solid Ground
Jesus once spoke about building on sand or on solid ground in Matthew 7:24, saying, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Matt. 7:26). If we hear Jesus’ words, then our home–in fact, our life–is on solid ground. How do we hear Jesus’ words today? We hear them from behind the pulpit and at Sunday school, or we “hear” them by our daily reading of the Word of God because Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, 14).
Cuts to Heal
Here is one of the best and most biblical descriptions of the Word of God: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12-13). The Word cuts both ways (being double-edged). Giving a sermon, it cuts me as well as the congregation that hears it, but it cuts in order to heal. The Word cuts right down into the innermost recesses of our thoughts, minds, and intents. Let it cut us so that it can heal us.
Power of the Word
Isaiah 55:11 tells a lot about the power of God’s Word: “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God promises that His Word, the Bible, will not return without having some effect, for which purpose He sent it out. This reminds me of Romans 1:16b, which says, “It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” So it has within itself its own power, just like the message of the cross: “to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). So let that power work in you!
Going Through the Word
How often did Jesus say “have you not read” (Matt. 12:3; 19:4) to the religious leaders? I could find dozens of times. Jesus did acknowledge that they had read the Bible, but did the Bible read them? They went through the Scriptures, but did the Scriptures go through them? The person who “wears out” their Bible is the person who will wear out the least.
The Peace of God
Those who have not made peace with God cannot have the peace of God. God is still an enmity toward them. Only those who have made peace with God can have the peace of God (Rom. 5:1) because their condemnation has been lifted (Rom. 8:1). Take this peace with you today. Pillow your head on it tonight because Jesus promised “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). It’s more than peace of mind–it is the peace of God,
Conclusion
The late Dr. Adrian Rogers is right. “If you have a Bible that’s falling apart, you’ll have a life that’s not” because your house is built on solid ground and you are taking in the very power of God by reading His Word. It cuts you in order to heal you. As you go through the Word of God, the Word of God goes through you, and in the process, you will have the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding (Phil. 4:7).
