Kathleen Norris tells the story of a South Dakota rancher and his bride who received a leather-bound Bible as a wedding gift from the groom’s grandfather. They wrote a thank-you note and stowed the Bible away on a closet shelf, out of the way. As time passed, the grandfather repeatedly asked the couple how they liked the Bible. The rancher was confused as to how to respond. Hadn’t he already expressed his appreciation? But the grandfather persisted. Eventually the young man dug out the gift; as he leafed through it, $20 bills fluttered out, 66 in all--one at the beginning of Genesis, and in each succeeding book. But that wasn’t the only treasure, or the best; the spiritual riches of Scripture transform our lives when we read and heed God’s word (Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith).
This is the first of seven blessings in the Book of Revelation, not counting the blessings to the seven churches in chapters 2-3. This list appears apart from those, and unlike most groups of seven, they do not appear together, they’re scattered throughout this book…but make no mistake, it is not coincidental that there are seven, because seven is a key number in Revelation. There are sevens on nearly every page--seven seals, trumpets, lampstands, churches, kings, mountains, and so on. Seven reflects the order and perfection of Creation, and is regarded as the number of completion.
Scholars may debate the timing of the tribulations, the identity of the antichrist, whether or not there’s a Rapture, but there’s no controversy over the Blessings of Revelation. A “blessing” is a pronouncement of God’s favor. The word can mean “happy” or even “congratulations!” We are praised for living God’s way. The world urges us to seek happiness in self-destructive ways, with selfish priorities and often unhealthy practices. When we stop believing lies, stop living for self, we discover the path of delight, which is spelled out in Scripture.
The Bible is God’s love letter to us. In college, we had a system of sending notes to and from the guys and girls’ dorms each evening (obviously long before email). One evening I hid my roommate’s letter from his girlfriend and it’s the nearest I ever came to being murdered!
The Bible is a loving invitation to know God. This blessing for the reading, hearing, and keeping of God’s word is the only time such a promise is made in Scripture. And while it refers to this particular book, it applies to all of Scripture. The average church-going family has plenty of Bibles, but they do little good unless they’re used and taken seriously.
This blessing stresses the importance of the public reading of Scripture. Some churches have an office of lector. It is one thing to read words, entirely another to read with meaning. I recall hearing Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe read a lengthy passage of Scripture; when he finished, I understood the passage better, even before he began to teach. He read with meaning. For those of you who enjoy recorded books, you know the difference a gifted reader can make.
Nowhere does God command us to read His word…yet the desire to read it is a sign of true spiritual life. Peter writes that believers should be drawn to the Bible the way babies are drawn to their mothers’ milk (I Pet 2:2). A healthy Christian will want to read the Bible. We cannot have the joy of knowing Jesus without having His words abide in us.
Are we convinced that there is no book more important than the Bible? According to a Gallop poll, most Americans revere the Bible but don’t read it. There is no excuse for biblical illiteracy; each follower of Christ should have a working-knowledge of the Scriptures. This means when a preacher asks you to turn to a book of the Bible, you don’t need to check the Table of Contents! You generally know what the Bible contains…and it makes a difference in your life.
Some people reject the Bible because to them it is an inconvenient book of rules. Yet how would you like to live without any rules? Try playing baseball with no rules, and you’ll quickly see it can’t be done. Do we really want to be totally on our own, with no guidance from Above? We might not like every rule in Scripture, but we can be grateful that God tells us right from wrong. But the Bible’s much more than rules. We also find in its pages comfort for every distress and hope that casts away our fear. “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
John writes, “the time is near.” The appointed times will arrive without delay. The author of Hebrews writes, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets at many times and in various ways, in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (1:1-2). John was writing to his generation, and much of this apocalyptic book is about events about to occur, namely the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Rome. Some of this final book is about the “end times” and the Second Coming, but some of it is about events the readers would live to see…and so John writes with a sense of urgency.
“Hear” and “keep” are major themes of the book of Revelation. We’re to stand firm, to persevere with faithful obedience. We endure till the end. James 5:8 charges us to “Be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s coming is near.”
Eugene Peterson says this about the Book of books: “Not everything about everything is in the Scriptures, but all that God intends for us to know. The Bible is writing intended to change our lives and not just information we stuff into the cells of our brains. As God accomplished His purpose in the writers of Scripture, He can do the same in the readers of Scripture.”
There is an undeniable link between Bible knowledge and an ability to live the way God wants. Without it, how can we hope to know God’s will? How are we to live like Christ if we know little of His life and teachings? By knowing Scripture, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free! We are freed from false views of God and false paths to God.
I recommend a Bible reading program, of at least one chapter per day; or you can buy a One Year Bible that has it all mapped out. Study Bibles include reading plans. Make sure you’re using a modern translation. If reading’s not your thing, get the Bible on CD or MP3 and listen. If you’re pretty familiar with the Bible, ask yourself if there are parts you’re less acquainted with and focus on them. A year ago I had to admit I didn’t know much about the prophecy of Jeremiah, so I re-read it, a chapter a day.
John tells us to “take it to heart.” We do that by taking Scripture seriously. We live within the great story found in Scripture. No amount of Bible reading will do much good without a heart willing to submit to God. We approach Scripture with an attitude of humility, devotion, and obedience.
When I lived in San Antonio I knew people who’d never been to the Alamo. I’ve heard of people who lived less than an hour from the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls who never visited these natural wonders. They were available, but neglected. It’s hard to imagine. We have a Book from God. Is it collecting dust? It’s been said that “dust on the Bible means sin on the heart.”
A.W. Tozer, wrote: “The Holy Scriptures tell us what we could never learn any other way: They tell us what we are, who we are, how we got here, why we are here, and what we are required to do while we remain here.” So let’s study it, pray in it, live it out, and pass it on!
