January 28: “TO AND FRO” IN DISCOVERY

. . . to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17

Seventeen small words. These seventeen words are part of James’ profound discourse regarding the law of God. James called it the royal law (2:8) and the law of liberty (1:25 & 2:12). The Ten Commandments lay out a succinct standard summarizing our love to God and to fellow human beings. It is the standard by which God’s judgement commences.

Since the time that Jesus walked the earth, the world has had free access to the word of God for only a relatively short time: a little over two hundred years. For the twelve hundred and sixty years prior, reading or owning the Bible was forbidden—on pain of death—by the Roman church (Revelation 12:6,14). But even during the Dark Ages, God consistently raised up faithful reformers from within that corrupted system. There were also generations of those who were never deceived by the compromises that came into the church during earlier centuries (see Revelation 12:6,11,14). These combined made up the remnant church. Fueled by the fire of the love of God, they shared gem after gem of truth: priceless treasures from His word. Each of the faithful is to be commended for faith in action—doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22)—and all certainly learned firsthand what it meant to suffer for the sake of righteousness. While no single reformer uncovered every treasure to be found in God’s word, all of them found their purpose in telling the world to seek Jesus in His word. Discovery is an ongoing process in the life of each individual.

Daniel was shown the end times in which access to the Bible would enable us to quickly and thoroughly explore every precept of God. We can run to and fro in cross-referencing His precepts, all of which are reinforced in varied times and settings. Indeed, understanding is deepening and truth is reaching more and more people, even across the boundaries of closed countries.

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. Daniel 12:3-4

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30