Last week we talked about how Christ is our Firm Foundation. We talked about how God was a Foundation to the Israelites, and we came to agreement that this meant two things: That (1) they would be shaken, but they would not be greatly shaken, and that (2) they would stand firm, and see the Salvation of the Lord. For the latter, we’ve seen that the Lord has told them that in at least two instances, involving Moses and Jehoshaphat.
We went on and realized, that if God was such a great Foundation for the Israelites, we have something better, in Jesus Christ. Among other things, Jesus Christ was referred to as the Cornerstone – that is, the very first stone that ultimately defines an entire structure. It’s the first stone in a foundation, and as such, can be called the foundation of foundations. With that said, we can affirm that not only do we have a foundation, but we have Christ as our Firm Foundation. We, also, shall not be greatly shaken. We, also, shall stand firm… not ‘in order to’, but BECAUSE we have seen Jesus, who is the Salvation of the Lord.
With that said, we move on to another Essential. We see instances in the Old Testament regarding how the Word and Commandment of our God has such great value:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
God’s Word is a Lamp to our feet. I imagine us walking on a tightrope… and when we talk about tightropes, we can’t not talk about the Flying Wallendas. Actually, for fear of being inaccurate, I’m letting ChatGPT tell us about them:
The Flying Wallendas is an iconic and illustrious circus family renowned for their death-defying high-wire acts and mesmerizing aerial performances. Originating in Germany in the late 18th century, the Wallenda family’s legacy began with Karl Wallenda, who solidified their reputation for audacious feats and unmatched showmanship. Through the generations, they have perfected the art of tightrope walking and aerial acrobatics, captivating audiences worldwide.
The Wallendas’ breathtaking performances have taken them to remarkable heights, from crossing wide chasms to navigating perilous walks between skyscrapers. Their acts often involve jaw-dropping stunts performed without any safety nets, leaving spectators in awe and suspense. The family’s unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of human potential and fearlessly defying gravity has set them apart in the world of circus arts. Throughout their journey, the Wallendas have received numerous accolades and admiration for their commitment to their craft. Their performances have left a profound impact on the circus industry, inspiring countless aspiring performers to push their limits and embrace the spirit of daring. The Flying Wallendas remain an enduring symbol of courage, skill, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of danger, capturing the hearts of audiences and preserving the magic of the circus for generations to come.
I’ve had the pleasure of being in the generation that recognizes Nik Wallenda in particular. He’s walked on tightropes crossing the Chicago skyline, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon, to name a few. And in my quick YouTube searches for his performances, I’ve seen that he does two things consistently – (1) praying out loud and even quoting verses, and (2) keeping his eyes on the tightrope, as he takes step by step by step. Through Nik we also learn that in instances so critical that each step we take has to be taken so carefully, the Word keeps us focused.
God’s Word is also a Light unto our path. We can be confident and/or equipped; we can have our plans plotted out but if we have no idea what lies before us, if we do not see our path with our eyes, we are no better than the wicked, as stated in Proverbs 4:19: The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. The presence of light is what determines if anything else that we do have is of any value. In other words, it’s only because of the light that we could truly be confident, and it’s only because of the light that anything that we do have is utilized to its full potential. It’s only in light that we are able to see our plans unfold, and if there is any need for us to adjust.
I know for a fact that I would rather do a long drive in broad daylight, and if ever there is a need to drive at night, you need light. Try driving at a hundred kilometers per hour in complete darkness and see how far you get, if you still survive to see anything.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Proverbs 4:18
So the Word of God is light – a lamp that shines in times where even our smallest of moves are scrutinized, and a light that ensures that we move forward on the path. But before we move on, I think its also important for us to dig deeper into how we could categorize God’s Word.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Proverbs 6:23-24
Simply put, you can differentiate the Words that God gives to us into at least these three categories: Commands, Teachings, and Reproofs. Commands to guide us even in the smallest of details, teachings to show us the paths we could take, and reproofs to keep us from going the wrong way. But see there – We can also see that not only are God’s Word (commands, teachings, and reproofs) a light, but they are also the way of life. If we read earlier that God’s Word is a light TO our path, well, here we see that God’s Word IS the way of life.
But putting it all together. We who count ourselves in the body of Christ through His finished work would do well to go deeper in appreciating the value of God’s Word. He doesn’t just talk to us, friends – No, here we see that He loves us to command us, to teach us, and to reproof us; and so valuable are His commands, His teachings, and His reproofs that they take priority over everything else, in the sense that they are a lamp to our feet, a light unto our path, and THE way to life.
If you seek light, take in the Word of God. If you want to know if you are in the path of life, then meditate on His commands, His teachings, and His reproofs.
We could stop there and say that we’ve learned so much, right? But wait… as usual, there’s more.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:9-14
In my own walk with God I’ve come to the standard operating procedure of talking to Him by way of prayer, and listening to Him by way of the Word – that is, the Scriptures. Other people in church have their own ways of figuring out for themselves how God talks to them, or how they talk to God, but we see that one thing is definitely in common for all of us. We have a common foundation, who is Christ, but apparently, we also have a common ground – that is, Christ.
We can come to agreement that Christ is the only Son from the Father, glorious and full of grace and truth. But see, in the same Scripture, we also see that He is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ is our common ground in that any word that we receive from God comes through Christ, and all that we communicate to Him also comes through Christ. More than anything we figure out for ourselves, we hear from God through Christ, who Himself is our Living word – that is, He is with us personally, commanding us, teaching us, and reproofing us.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with our seeking God by way of the Bible – in fact, I encourage it! What I AM saying is that it’s all made possible by way of Christ, who Himself is the Living Word. I repeat something I keep saying: Christ is the Living Word that adds life to the Word we read.
I’m also not saying that there’s anything wrong with our seeking God by way of prayer – in fact, I want something that Pastor Oscar wanted, too. In my earlier days in the church I served in, he was the one who said that if he had the money, he’d hire someone just to pray, if only to emphasize that he couldn’t pray enough on his own! No, friends, what I AM saying is that this uninterrupted, clear line we have to Heaven is all possibly by way of Christ, who Himself is the Word of Life; Christ is the Word of Life that reveals the Word for every situation in our lives.
And look – earlier in the verse we read that Christ is the TRUE Light, ‘which gives light to everyone’.
We’ve read in the Old Testament that the Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path – But we see here, that Christ more than fits the bill for all of us! In our reading about how Christ is the Living Word and the Word of Life, apparently it’s no surprise that we find ourselves talking about light. It’s no accident that when we imagine a great revelation coming to our heads, we call that enLIGHTenment, and cartoon characters with great ideas suddenly have a light bulb switching on somewhere close to where their brains are!
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16
Remember our parallels? You can’t talk about God without talking about love, nor can you talk about love without talking about God. You can’t talk about God’s love without talking about Jesus Christ, nor can you talk about Jesus Christ without talking about God’s love; But it also appears (see? Another reference to light) that when you talk of Christ being the Living Word, you also automatically talk about Christ being the true Light, and when you talk of Christ being the Word of Life, you also talk about Christ being OUR lamp upon our feet, and OUR light unto our path.
Through all of this we see another essential realization to the infinite and priceless value of Christ:
Christ is the Living Word that adds life to the Word we read. Christ is the Word of Life that reveals the Word for every situation in our lives.
Christ is the reason for revelation, and Christ is our light for now (lamp upon our feet) and the future (light unto our path).
When we enjoy the Word, we bask in the light, and when people see the light we shine, they are drawn to the Word.
Or, to simplify further:
Christ is the Living Word.
Christ is the True Light.
We receive His revelations.
We reflect His life.
Pretty excited to conclude all this next week.
Until the next post, God bless us all.
JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter 
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