WHAT THIS SITE IS ABOUT
I was a very young man when I discovered the scriptures. They inspired me. They encouraged me. They gave me hope. They empowered me. I didn’t know or even care, really, why or how. I just came to rely on them. I decided to make them the subject of my life’s work, "the meditation of my heart." They have never disappointed me. I find them endlessly fascinating. Not only have I been immeasurable benefited through them, but I have also marveled as I have seen them benefit many, many others.
This site reflects my testimony concerning the power and inspiration of scripture and the incomparable benefits that flow from consistent, careful, believing, and anticipatory scripture study. Scripture is, for me, the word of an infinite and infallible God as filtered through finite and fallible human beings. Having come through the finite and fallible filter of the human mind, scripture is, therefore, not perfect. It is not inerrant. It is certainly not always to be taken literally. But, notwithstanding its imperfection, I believe in the power and inspiration of scripture and in the necessity and benefits of constant, careful, believing, and anticipatory scripture study.
It is hoped that those who visit this site will find their testimony and appreciation of scripture enlarged, and feel a greater desire to read, study, and ponder scripture more consistently. It is hoped that they will study with greater care, increased faith, and fuller anticipation of the wondrous manifestations that God has prepared for all who diligently search the scriptures.
But the reading of scripture is a two-way street. As we read scripture, it reads us right back. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4.12). This reading of us, I believe, is at the heart of scripture’s divine mission.
Inasmuch as scripture reads each reader individually and personally, there is no limit to the messages that can be sent or the purposes that can be achieved. It is impossible, then, to catalogue all the benefits that scripture and scripture study bring into our lives. Still, I cannot resist offering a kind of synopsis of scripture. This synopsis guides much of what is found on this sight.
I often liken scripture to an art gallery. This art gallery is full of portraits. Here are some of the portraits that I have discovered and that I examine on this site.
GOD
There are two halls dedicated to the most important portraits—those of God, Himself: what kind of Being He is, His character, attributes, disposition, etc. In these portraits, we gain entrance into God’s most intimate thoughts, feelings, activities, and purposes. “The scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom” (DC 35.20).
In the first hall, we find portraits by various artists. These can differ significantly, depending upon the artists’ perspective, time, and place. The portraits of God change over time and place, not because God changes but because humans change. Human’s view of God changes. The human capacity to comprehend Him, as elementary as even the most discerning comprehension is, waxes and wanes. Given human limitations in understanding the infinite, the portraits are inevitably flawed in various and myriad of ways.
In the second hall dedicated to divine portraiture, another artist’s work is displayed. This painter’s name is Jesus. His portraits of God are as near perfect as it is possible to create. No one ever painted so accurately as him—not before, and not after. As one views these portraits, one notices that the artist and his subject look strikingly alike. Jesus is God’s living portrait, the clearest, most accurate representation of God and His character ever painted. In these portraits, one looks upon a God devoted to and willingly participatory with humankind. One gazes upon a God who is a connected Being. A God without guile, whose object it is to serve, develop, and advance others, whatever the cost to Himself. Here one sees how much God suffers to stay connected and to advance those who so seldom appreciate Him or His sacrifice for them. The human hands of the New Testament Gospel writers, it is true, later touched up these portraits. But, still, they represent the best portraits of God ever created.
HUMAN
In scripture’s art gallery, there are two halls dedicated to portraits of the human being. In the first, is a series of portraits entitled, “Human Beings In Nature”—the natural man [and woman] to use a scriptural phrase. This is a brutal series of portraits, too often wild, animalistic. Here, humans are portrayed as hardened. Fallen. Vain. Unsteady. Insecure. Foolish. Quick to do iniquity. Slow to do good. Violent. Carnal. Sensual. Devilish. Madness seems to reign here. These humans cannot endure, but are destined for annihilation. It is tempting to skip this hall. Pretend it does not exist. Pretend its portraits are fantasy. But this will not do. We must take our time here. Study the details carefully. There is much to learn by doing so.
In the second hall dedicated to the human being is a series of portraits entitled, “Human Beings in Christ.” Sometimes this hall is named, “Rebirth” or “Born Again.” Here we see people who love and honor Jesus. We see the penitent. We see human beings who are childlike, submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love (Mos. 3.19). Here, they are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, and virtuous (Phil. 4.8). Here they practice love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” (Gal. 5.22-23). As one carefully studies each portrait, one notices how much like those of Jesus each on is. These are they who have taken Jesus as their exemplar. These are those who have taken upon themselves his image. Then one realizes that Jesus belongs in this hall as well because he is not only the perfect representation of God, but the perfect representation of the human being as God intended them to be. These are humans who endure and progress.
SOCIETY
Like the portraits of God and humans, there are two halls dedicated to portraits of human society, for, like God, humans are social beings. In the first hall are portraits of human society as they exist in this world. This hall is sometimes named, “Babylon the great.” Like the portraits of humans in nature, these portraits are brutal. They are often repulsive, pornographic, and blood soaked. Here, humans are often portrayed as acting in ways that they would not act on their own. They become infected with each other’s ills and evils, as if by contagion. Here, the unscrupulous and powerful, without conscious, violate others for their own temporary advancement. Here, the week, the poor, the alien, the vulnerable become meat for the strong, the wealthy, the privileged, the entitled. It is a dog-eat-dog world. A place where the survival of the fittest is religion. A place of war and rumor of war. A society that cannot endure. Again, we are tempted to skip this hall, deny the reality depicted there. But we cannot. Must not. It is part of that great whole of truth: what really was, what really is, and what really will be until the arrival of that society that is portrayed in the final hall.
In the second hall devoted to society, we find a series of portraits sometimes entitled, “The City of God,” at other times, “Zion,” or “New Jerusalem.” Here, all are alike, not only in the eyes of God but in the eyes of each citizen. Here there are no rich or poor, no citizen or foreigner, strong or week, privileged or underprivileged. Here is equality in wealth, in privilege, in potential. Here there is no contention or contending. No war or rumor of war. Here, God reigns in every heart, His image transplanted upon every countenance.
No doubt, scripture paints portraits of other subjects. No doubt, there are innumerable other ways to summarize and characterize scripture and its infinite purposes. But, those listed above can serve as a kind of map to this site and the approach to scripture that can be found on it. May the faithful and expectant reader of scripture find their hopes realized according to the Psalmist’s plea.
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Ps. 119.18).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!