When school begins in the fall, boys and girls are faced
with the challenge of going back to the basics.
In the classroom, on the sports field, or in the music room, teachers
and coaches emphasize the importance of fundamentals and they repeat those
basics over and over again. Fundamentals
are also important in the Christian life.
The Apostle Peter says,“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and
you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no
prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will
of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:19-21).These verses tell us that God’s Word is basic for Christians. We need the fundamentals of Scripture for Christian faith and for daily living. Notice some specifics from these verses:
1) We can have confidence in God’s Word. It can be counted on in all kinds of
2) We
need to listen carefully to God’s Word. In fact, Scripture is so important that we would “do well to pay attention to it.”
3) God’s
Word is a light for guiding us when things seem unclear. It provides direction like “a light shinning in
a dark place.”
4) God’s
Word originates with and has its source in God, Himself. What is written in the Bible is not just “the prophet’s own
interpretation” but it is “from God.”
Therefore, God Word is completely dependable. This fall is a great time for all of us to
open our Bibles and get “back to the basics.”
