Steve Higginbotham
After 57 years of godless leadership, Judah found themselves in the midst of a revival under the leadership of King Josiah. One of the amazing discoveries of Josiah’s reign was the discovery of the Book of the Law. What is even more amazing is that this long-lost book was found in the House of the Lord!
My question is, “How is it that the word of God came to be lost, in of all places, the house of the Lord?” What were they doing religiously for the past 57 years that allowed them to lose the word of God in the temple itself? There is really only one adequate explanation – years of neglect. During Judah’s rebellion against God, the word of God had been so forsaken and forgotten, it was simply shuffled off in some dusty corner somewhere and just ignored and forgotten.
However, before we smugly look down upon Judah with contempt for their conduct, we had better do some self-evaluation (Matthew 7:1-5). I’m afraid that the book of the law, or the word of God has been lost, in of all places, many churches today.
I have talked with enough people and listened to them express their concerns to come to the conclusion that God’s word has been lost and needs rediscovering in many of our churches today. Book, chapter, and verse preaching is a rare commodity in some places. I hear people tell me and I read in bulletins that there is no shortage of information about psychology, philosophy, counseling, current events, social concerns, and politics. Not that these things have no relevance to the Christian life, but divorced from Scriptural application they have little meaning.
In too many places, few are being told how to “be good,” while many are being told how to “feel good.” I’m afraid that some are more familiar with the 12 steps to recovery than they are with the steps of salvation. In some quarters, the word of God is dispensed in such small diluted doses, it lacks the convicting power necessary to reform lives and bring about repentance. In these places, the Bible is given honorable mention but has for all practical purposes been shoved aside and lost among the cobwebs.
Let’s be certain we never lose the Bible, for it will be our standard of judgment (John 12:48), and it is the only light that can guide us on our way to Heaven (Psalm 119:105)