Let the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, be the rule of our faith and practice. Holding this principle we travel upon the king’s highway. The road may sometimes seem narrow, and our faith may be severely tried, but we shall not be allowed greatly to err. Departing from this principle we enter on a pathless wilderness. There is no telling what we may be led to believe or do. Forever let us bear this in mind. Here let us cast anchor. Here let us abide.
~ J.C. Ryle
Daily Readings From All Four Gospels: For Morning and Evening, [Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 1998], July 31st, Morning.
I love this principle. Sometimes it may really be hard to live according to it. But it is always better to be on the path of limited space when we know really know what we do and what we can and can not do than going beyond this boundaries onto the path which, I would say, leads to chaos and anarchy, the so-called freedom which is not real freedom. Satan is imprisoned in sin, not freed by it as he first believed. His lies have become such a strong tool that it even overpowered its own creator. Satan believes his lies, he genuinely believes that his lies are the real truth. He is no more able to recognize his own deception which he threw himself into than an animal is able to against its instinct. He will stop at nothing until he is destroyed. Don’t allow this to happen to you. Be aware of his ability of deceiving and then you can fight against him with God’s Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. God’s blessings be upon you all
I love thinking of God’s word as the path or way he laid out for us to stay on. And isn’t he kind to give us his Spirit to illuminate that path for us!
As good as Ryle’s admonition was for his era, I believe it’s become even MORE relevant for our day. Reminds me of the prophecy in Amos:
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of Jehovah.” (Amos 8:11 ASV)
We are a privileged peoples or ‘royal priesthood and chosen generation’ as the Apostle states; and we must strive to enter into heaven through ‘the straight and narrow route’ as our Lord tells us, which is identified through the Church and preaching at Pentecost & Acts 2:38. I believe the Spirit, as Jesus said in John 14 will lead us from there. Praise God!