Mike’s Musings ….
A Difference in Batteries
A wise man once observed, “You should learn something new every day.” Well, I did! Not long ago, Nancy’s cousin sent her some “solar-powered lights” in the shape of owls. We had our son drill some holes and install them on our fence. One of the owls wasn’t “turning on” at night, so I took it apart and seeing the AAA battery, removed it and installed a new one. It worked! So, returning the owl light to its perch, I felt a sense of euphoria in fixing my wife’s light. However, after a couple of weeks, I noticed the owl was no longer shining. I checked and sure enough, a “regular” AAA battery will work for a while, but it isn’t designed to accept solar energy and therefore will only work for a short time in solar-powered lights. You need batteries designed for that solar power!
The thought occurred to me our minds are the same way regarding the acceptance of God’s Word. Hundreds of souls study things “about” God’s word, but they won’t study what God gave us! A friend wrote to me asking if I’d ever read a story about Judas stealing money to buy a parcel of land to call his “home” in an earthly kingdom. I replied, “I never read it in Scripture. Stories like this are easily fabricated.” She agreed as she replied, “I think I’ll shred this book and use it on the flowers. I don’t think it will hurt them.”
Solomon noted that the making of books has no end (Eccl. 12:12) which means that as long as man exists, someone will be writing things they intend others to read. That doesn’t make all written things true! That’s the reason we must examine such things with GOD’S WORD. Our souls depend on HIS power to be renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). “Regular information” just won’t accept the power that God provides. Oh, we might “shine” for a time, making others think we have a good supply of useful information. But in time, that information dims and then ends altogether because there was no supply of acceptable, usable power. I emphasized acceptable for a reason: not just any information will save our souls any more than an unacceptable battery will accept solar power.
Frankly, our minds weren’t designed for useless information. They were designed to accept only God’s truth! Jesus said, “Ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free.” (John 8:32) If the information entering our minds only appears to be acceptable, it will fail miserably when evaluated with truth! Solomon’s experiences should convince us that only God’s Word (His power – Romans 1:16) is the element by which we find all the knowledge and wisdom needed to please Him. (2 Peter 1:3) I muse on this reality: if God didn’t reveal it, then it isn’t necessary for our salvation. If He did reveal it, I must accept it, for His Word alone has the power to save my soul and make me shine as a true light in this world!