Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Studying the Bible Is Like Reading a Map
1) First, “What is a map?” For the younger generation, a map is a paper GPS that you have to “read” (maps don’t verbally tell you when to turn). The same is true when studying a Bible (and I don’t mean an app reading to you). Don’t just listen to others tell you what to think and do. Luke 10:26 – “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?”
2) All admit there are right and wrong interpretive “turns”. Make the wrong choice and you get lost. Just as there are objective truths on maps, so there are in the Bible. Matthew 22:29 – Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Mark 12:34 – “When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any longer.”
3) Ever know the destination already, but still need or want to look again at the map to be reminded? The Bible is like that too. Philippians 3:1 – Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.
4) I’ve made trips to places I’ve never been too before. But I knew where I was going. Some like to go on an adventure not knowing where they will end up. This type of reading should be more common, and still has right and wrong interpretive “turns”; but we don’t know where we will end up. This kind is very rare. “Who is he speaking about? Acts 8:34 – The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about — himself or another person?”
5) You know where you want to go and every interpretive turn is designed to get you to your predetermined destination…then you discover you are using the wrong map! Do you continue to use the wrong map? No! Acts 26:19 – “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
Now all this is just common sense when reading a map or following GPS (once the GPS kept me going round-about the roundabout but I finally figured it out). Why is it people throw out common sense when reading Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth?
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