The Bible and the Weather

God’s Word is just as real as the weather and it affects our lives just as much. We can choose to acknowledge that truth or we can attempt to insulate ourselves from the effects of that truth.

I know that with the weather we choose the aspects that we like and we wander out and enjoy the effects of sunshine warming our bodies on a beach or snow providing a pleasurable sensation as we glide over it.  When the weather becomes something other than what we choose to enjoy we find coping mechanisms to either shield ourselves from it or to just tolerate the effects. We hunker down by an indoor fire on a cold wet day; we layer our clothing to bring warmth to ourselves when the sun doesn’t cooperate with our desires.

Mankind seems to do similar things with Holy Scripture, God’s divine Word. We embrace the portions that tell us how much we are loved and how other people need to change behaviors that we find reprehensible. But when we encounter portions of Scripture that cause us discomfort or appear to be contrary to our desires, we find ways to insulate ourselves from those teachings. This may just be a method of self-preservation. If we were truly to encounter the Living God in our sinful state we would be consumed. Yet, that is exactly what Scripture teaches we need. Until we are dead to ourselves we cannot be alive to Christ. Instead of hiding in our own warmth by denying portions of God’s revealed Word maybe we could find benefit from exposing ourselves to the full strength of that revelation. Rather than insulating ourselves with man-made doctrine or religious trappings, maybe more direct contact with the Word of God would assist us in knowing and becoming more like the God of the Word.

“All Scripture is God-Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (NIV)