2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
This passage of scripture tells us that, not only were the scriptures given by inspiration of God, but it also says that every area of our lives are covered in its sacred pages. The Lord did not miss any aspect of our lives in the instructions and teachings of His word. The Bible contains eternal principles that are adapted to every experience and situation that may cross our path, that's why we are encouraged to study its teachings so that we may have an active reference point in any situation and in any emergency. It's a sad commentary of our modern world, that the devil has made very great in-roads into many minds and into our thought processes, so that his teachings and principles are brought to bear on the majority of decisions most people make.
For instance, when confronted with issues pertaining to dating, teenagers and young adults frequently refer to what they've seen and heard on "The young and the restless", or some other soap opera, for answers to their questions, instead of referring to the scriptures. The Bible should be made the rule and guide of life, and before making any serious decision, God intends that we should first consult a "Thus saith the Lord " before rushing out to make decisions that we may regret in the future. We are told in the Bible that we would be tempted by Satan from time to time, but there is something such as unnecessary temptations. When we are unfamiliar with what the scriptures teach on a particular issue, then we become vulnerable to the suggestions of the evil one, who is an expert in quoting scripture. This he does over and over again, and millions, yea billions of people are totally unaware that they are doing his bidding, because as a rule, he always clothes sin in garments of light.
That's why we are admonished to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In other words, before making any major decisions, before making any major purchases, and before choosing a spouse, let's consult the word of God, that we may be guided in paths of righteousness. A striking example of what we're speaking of, is found in the second temptation of Christ, in which the devil tried to persuade Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, to try and force The Father to deliver Him. Jesus utterly refused, by referring to the scriptural principle that we should never place ourselves in harm's way unnecessarily, and then expect The Lord to deliver. If Christ had yielded to this temptation He would have fallen on the sin of presumption, an all too common sin. Let's read:
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
In other words Jesus is not going to deliberately place himself in grave peril and then call upon The Father to deliver; an act such as this would absolutely send the wrong message to the human family, thereby encouraging us to take unnecessary risks. Then if we do, and God is forced to deliver in such situations, then we would actually be controlling God, instead of Him controlling us. Not long ago, a resident of Florida died after eating several cockroaches at a competition held locally. Prayers were probably offered on his behalf, but in such circumstances it would be unreasonable to expect The Lord to deliver, for as far as we know, there isn't any scripture authorizing the use of cockroaches as an article of food, therefore the man lost his life from the sin of presumption. Furthermore the Bible explicitly states that there are laws of cause and effect which cannot be disregarded with impunity. Let's read:
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
If the person who died had consulted the word of God, he could have been saved from such an unfortunate demise for the word of God even has instructions on cockroaches. Let's read:
Leviticus 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
Now friends, we are by no means encouraging anyone to eat grasshoppers, we are simply showing from the Bible the parameters that have been set for the consumption of such creatures, if a person so chooses to do. The habit of consulting God's word in everything will save us many a headache, and can inmost instances keep us out of harm's way. We will close our brief commentary with a mighty promise that God has made to the human family, and we would do well to follow the instruction it contains as we move forward .Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. "Good night" and God bless!