Why the Old Man Hates To Read the Bible
By Justin Johnson
The most praised book that is read the least must be the Bible. People buy multiple copies and don’t even read it!
Every year a multitude of new books are published about the Bible which people are eager to buy.
Only a few of these are any good, but a lot of them are read because it is easier to read books about the Bible than the Bible itself.
Our old man hates reading the word of God, but loves to boast in man’s wisdom. Books about the Bible can be a trap to the flesh to ignore the Bible. Our carnal old man will vainly glorify the Bible as a book, but will neglect actually using it. Beware.
Romans 7:18 says that in our flesh is no good thing, and I believe it.
The Bible is not a product of the flesh, and it does not satisfy the flesh to use it. Our old man opposes the study of God’s words, choosing rather to read books written by great men instead of the one book written by the Almighty God and our Lord.
The old man needs to be reckoned dead, crucified with Christ. Our old man wants nothing to do with the book that preaches its own death. Inevitably, the old man robs people from studying the Bible and blinds them from seeing the truth about life in Christ.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:11
When we see that in our flesh is no good thing, then we know that the same is true of every man and their books.
That the Bible is praised but not read is a sign that the old man is alive and well. Our old man will resist the words of the Bible when given the opportunity to trust in men’s words.
The Snare of Books
It may be said, “But there are helpful things in books written by men.”
Indeed, it is true that books serve a good purpose.
Reading good books can be helpful and profitable for a time, but never as a substitute for the one book that came from the mouth of God designed for your knowledge of the truth. Whereas many books are useful for reading only once, the Bible is only useful if read continually.
The snare of reading great works of men is the lie that there is some good in human wisdom. The snare of our vain flesh is to think that God’s words are no different than any man’s words. The Bible says the opposite: true wisdom is God’s wisdom; man’s wisdom is nothing. God’s wisdom is found only in the Bible.
“…the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Cor 1:25
All the treasures of wisdom are hid in Christ.
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” – Col 2:3-4
The old man wants to declare that there is wisdom that it can produce. The Bible tells it to shut up and play dead (Rom 3:19).
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” – 1 Cor 3:19-20
The Bible is inspired by the Creator of the universe and is different than every other book on the shelf. No other book compares when your goal is to grow in wisdom.
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