There is no other book written
by men which can exceed the poetic beauty of the Bible. Its pages
are full of wondrous verses which, just by their sheer splendor
of wording, capture the imaginations of men and testify of its true
authorship. Due to man's innate rebellion
against the spiritual truth found therein, its natural beauty often
goes unrecognized, and its value as literature is frequently diminished.
All of the religious books of the world combined cannot match
it for magnificence of expression, and are even laughable by comparison. While there is a grandeur and
beauty in its pages which can be recognized by the natural
man, yet none can behold the true glory thereof apart from
being born again by the Spirit of God. Ultimately, it is a book
which is given for one purpose, which is to testify of the glory
of Him who has created all things according to the good pleasure
of His will, and does direct all events, times, and actions
to occur in keeping with His purpose, to magnify the glory
of His grace in the redemption of sinners by the blood and righteousness
of Jesus Christ. In keeping with this purpose,
we read that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. It is very apparent
that those who are the objects of His redemptive work are also
the subjects of His Spirit's work, as He calls them from darkness
to light. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of His. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. One of the evidences of this
work is a love and regard for the Word of God. Unto you, therefore,
which believe, He is precious. Both Isaiah and Habakkuk said,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
waters cover the sea. Many have tried to make these
prophecies to have reference to a time which is yet future
to the present age in which we live. Yet it seems clear that
they are both referring to the time when Christ would come into
the world and make known His redemptive purpose as He was
born of a woman. When it pleased him, he laid
down his life as a sacrifice for sin, and according to his
own time, rose again from the tomb, where he was laid three
days earlier. After forty days, during which
time he appeared to his disciples, he then ascended back to the
right hand of the Father, from whence he shall return at the
last trump, when he shall gather his purchased possession, which
have been scattered in the earth. No man could have known all of
these details, nor encompass this knowledge prior to his carrying
all of it out in order and time which seemed good to him. Yet
now he has clearly ordained that every detail of that work which
he has finished might be known. Thus he has ordained that the
gospel of the kingdom be preached to every creature, and he has
promised to call his own from out of every kindred, tribe,
and tongue upon the face of the earth. Now even as the waters
cover the sea, so too does the gospel of the glory of the blessed
God cover the earth and cannot be stymied or overturned by any
power or principality. As he has surrounded the seas,
so too has he placed a bound upon his word which cannot be
heard but by those to whom it is given. This is a glorious
wonder which a man is not sufficient to fully grasp, yet is declared
over and over again throughout the scriptures. Thus no man can
glory in having obtained an understanding of the truth of God by his own
power or will, but must simply fall upon his face and thank
him who bestows understanding to men according to his purpose.
The glory of God is displayed in plain sight as the waters
cover the sea, but not one man in the earth can discover it
by his own power. Any man who is not deaf can hear
the gospel preached and can even acknowledge that the facts which
he hears presented are true. Yet apart from an operation of
God's sovereign grace giving him a new birth, he will never
be able to see the glory of the One who is the Savior of sinners
and the reigning King. The man who has given an ear
to hear will not only rejoice in sins forgiven, but shall find
great delight in the Lord and His word. He desires to know
the truth in his inward parts and can be satisfied with nothing
less.