Endless Seeking
Why does seeking God’s kingdom require endless ongoing teaching and study? Why does the Bible uniquely feel like an alive, ever-changing, ever more to discover, textbook? I’m sure you have noticed how, when you read something in your Bible that you have read before, a totally new and deeper or even different understanding is revealed. How can this happen over and over again?
In my life, I have studied many subjects. I have several shelves of books full of all sorts of math, science, engineering, and philosophy topics. I studied them once and remember most of it. When I forget the details of some topic or another, I can pull the book down and refresh what I already know. What I re-learn is no different from what I learned the first time. Nothing changed. The worldly knowledge contained in these books is static.
Not so with the Bible. When I re-read a portion of the scriptures, I often gain a new and deeper understanding of God’s kingdom. A surprisingly improved view as to how it works, what God wants for my heart posture, and even what action to take on a current issue. I’m wondering why the Bible is such a different thing compared to all those other books. How can thousands of Bible teachers through the centuries teach from this one book over and over again with continual fresh insight? Why is it that we can learn new things from it endlessly over an entire lifetime? Why do we so often need to be reminded or relearn what we have already learned once but have drifted away from the truth of it? After all, the Bible is just one book.
I’m convinced there are two reasons for this. First of all, when you study the Bible, you are not alone. The Holy Spirit in you is teaching and interpreting for you. For believers, the Bible is the only book that has a built-in full-time tutor. This is supernatural.
These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1Cor 2:10-13 ESV)
Secondly, the learnings you absorb when studying God’s word have active opposition. Satan is endlessly busy lying to you about what you have learned from the scriptures. He is trying to replace God’s truth with the worldly view. This is also supernatural.
Your active fight against this opposition can take the form of quoting the Bible in response to your circumstances. Also, we know that faith comes from hearing (and reading) the word of God. Faith is exactly what is needed to quench the fiery darts of the Devil.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17 ESV)
In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. (Eph 6:16 ESV)
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Conclusion: Reading God’s word with the Holy Spirit on board and expecting new revelation of his kingdom will continually move you toward Jesus —knowing him, becoming like him, and doing the things Jesus did. Plus, consistent study of the Bible will strengthen your faith and therefore diminish Satan’s ability to influence your life.
There is no other book like the Bible. What a gift!
