The Testimony Of The Lord Is Sure
...the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalms 19:7.)
Though this is a short statement, volumes could be written on it's contents and implications. One of the proofs of inspiration of the scriptures is the brevity thereof. No other book reveals so much in so few words.
The statement of our text is a truth that the world needs to learn more than any other lesson. "The testimony of the Lord is sure". In an age where the word of God is questioned on every hand surely this lesson is timely. In bygone years seldom did we hear anyone question anything the Bible revealed. However, it is not uncommon or unusual, now, to hear someone ask, "How do I know that a thing is true simply because it is recorded in the Bible?" A proper investigation of our text will, I believe, help those who wonder if the Bible or scripture is true and really the word of God.
Past Testimony Of The Lord
Let us look at the testimony of the Lord in the past. We contend that the "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21.) The men who wrote the scriptures did not claim that they wrote by their own wisdom but rather that they were guided by the Holy Spirit. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; . . . ." ( 1 Cor. 1:13.) Now let us test some of the testimony which was given hundreds of years ago and see if it was sure. If one piece of testimony given by the word of the Lord could be proven wrong it would impeach all the rest. However, every bit of the testimony given by the Lord has been proven to be SURE and accurate.
First — The testimonies of the Lord have proven to have been scientifically true before modern science was discovered. For example, Genesis 1:10 states, "And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas; and God saw that it was good." This was written by Moses about fifteen hundred years before Christ. At the time of the writing man did not know that all the waters of earth was connected and lay in ONE bed. Yea, man did not even know that there was more than one sea. Yet, this statement mentions seas (plural) and the gathering together of the waters. These two scientific facts was not known until hundreds of years after this was written. This proves that man did not by his own wisdom write this. And that this testimony of the Lord is sure.
Second — Until relatively recent times man thought the earth was flat. Yet the testimony of the Lord was, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth . . ." (Isa. 40:22.) This was hundreds of years before it was discovered that the earth was round and had a "circle" to it.
Third — (Job. 26:7.) "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place and hangeth the earth upon nothing." At the time this was written man did not know that there was an empty place in the north. That is a modern discovery. Neither did man know that the earth rotated in space. Again the testimony of the Lord proved to be sure and scientifically true though given thousands of years before the facts were known to man.
Fourth — Only in this century did man learn that the blood of all men is the same. Yet the testimony of the Lord was, two thousand years ago, that "and hath made of one blood all the nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." (Acts 17:26.)
None of the men who wrote these things knew about these things. It had to be inspired by the Lord. And in every case the testimony of the Lord was sure. We could multiply these examples.
I call your attention to the prophesies of the Old Testament. These were written hundreds of years before the fulfillment came to pass. Every one of them was sure. They all came to pass exactly as prophesied. The prophesies of Jesus — of his Birth, of his Life, of his Death. All were sure. Things happened exactly as the prophesies said they would. Not one failed.
Present Testimony Of The Lord
Since every statement of the Lord in the past proved sure and stedfast, why would anyone dare question any statement of the Lord unto us in this age? The accuracy of the prophets did not just happen that way. It was not just an accident that they all proved right. No! No! That could not be. If you think that it could just take a man and give him a pistol and blind-fold the man, spin him around a few times and let him fire a hundred shots at a target. Would every one of these shots find the "bulls-eye"? I dare say that it would be an accident if one did. Yet, hundreds of prophetic shots were fired into the future and every one of them found the target. The only explanation is that God inspired those who wrote. It is the word of the Lord.
With this evidence one would be most foolish to reject the scriptures as the inspired word of the Lord. Also, since all the testimony has proven sure, one would be foolish to say that anything the Lord has said is NOT sure. The testimony of the Lord is that we obey. (Mt. 7:21) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, but he that doeth the will of my Father in Heaven" "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" (Lu. 6:46.) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; ..." (Mk. 16:16.) Do you believe it? Remember, the testimony of the Lord is sure. You must believe it. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . ." (Acts 2:38.) This is the testimony of the Lord. Just why do you think that this is not true when everything else that the Lord has said has proven true?
I plead with all to give heed to ALL that the Lord has spoken and render complete obedience thereunto. Because the Lord will come again in flaming fire taking vengeance on all that know not God, and obey not the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:7-9.) But "Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev. 22:14.)