The Entirety of
God’s Word
Perhaps you have heard the story about a group of blind men who were
taken to “see” a particular animal. Later, these men related their
experience. One sightless fellow thought the animal was very much like a
rope (he had felt its tail). Another likened it to a wall (he had leaned
against its broad side); another to the trunk of a strong tree (he had
felt one of its legs); another to a large fan (he had felt one of its
ears).
All the men had gone to “see” an elephant, but each came back with an
entirely different idea as to what it was. Their failure was the result
of each feeling a part of, rather than the whole, elephant.
Too often men make the same mistake in their approach to the Bible. They
will feast their eyes on one set of passages, while yet completely
ignoring another. This taking to heart one scripture without considering
another results in a sort of “piece-meal” understanding. Is it any
wonder, then, why so many are divided in the religious world today? All
too many have no comprehension of the “whole” book.
One cannot accept one part of God’s word while “turning a blind eye” to
another. To do so results in nothing short of spiritual blindness,
leading to a certain “ditch” (Matt.15:14). The Bible itself declares
that “all” of God’s commandments are “truth” -- not just a selected few.
“The entirety of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:151,160). Anything less
will provide a distorted, erroneous picture, and will not suffice.
--Mike Noble
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