The Scriptures teach that God “is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Yet how many Americans could be classified as such? Some may be casually seeking Him although there is no sense of urgency. Like the Laodiceans our material prosperity seems sufficient for the moment. We are rich and think we have need of nothing. We are comfortable and secure. Perhaps some day, if we have time, we will try to improve our relationship with God.
Improve? One must first have one before it can be improved. Polls indicate that most people think they are saved. How many people could, however, go to the Bible to show what God requires as it pertains to salvation? Some undoubtedly think that they are “saved” because they are fairly decent people and have not committed any of the “big” sins. They do not realize that: 1) they stand guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23); 2) sin brings forth death (Rom. 6:23); and 3) man’s own righteousness cannot save him. If it could, Jesus died a needless, excruciating death on the cross for nothing. But all men (from the worst to the best) obtain redemption through His sacrifice (Rom. 3:24-26).
Others may think they have been saved because Billy Graham or someone else told them to say “the sinner’s prayer.” So they confessed they were sinners and asked Jesus to come into their lives–not realizing that neither “the sinner’s prayer” nor asking Jesus to come into one’s life is Biblical. Since that brief moment occurred years ago, they have not studied the Bible to find out differently, nor have they even thought of God very often. After all, they were assured of salvation.
For whatever reason, the fact is that many have neglected reading and studying the Word of God. And while there is yet time to do so, what would it be like if that privilege were denied? How could such an unrealistic phenomenon occur? It really does seem unlikely, but what if Christians were demonized by Humanists and portrayed as the source of problems in the United States? Actually, some are already suggesting this idea. Paul was accused of being a radical troublemaker in the first century:
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6).
Following the demonization phase could come the confiscation phase, where all Bible and religious materials are removed from society, a la Fahrenheit 451 (a futuristic novel in which firemen burn books). Only government approved materials would be for sale. Laws could ban religious reading materials, computer programs, etc.
The reader may be thinking, “No way.” Too many Americans would protest. Man does not possess enough power to pull something like this off in this day and age. That hypothesis would be a debatable point, considering that a union of government and education (which mostly denies God’s existence already) might be quite devastating. But for the sake of exploring the idea, suppose we grant the point that man is not intelligent enough or powerful enough to eradicate the Bible from this nation. There remains One who is powerful enough to bring it about–God. What?! Why would He do it?
We can deal with the why later; the fact is that He has done it already. Consider what God promised His own people:
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from the north to the east; They shall run to and fro, Seeking the word of the Lord, But shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12).
These verses are truly shocking. It is difficult to imagine that God would ever deny access to His Word. His Word provides light in a world of darkness, life to those could nourish themselves by it (Matt. 4:4), hope for those facing life’s various sufferings. Why would God bring about a famine of His Word?
Probably God took such a drastic action for the same reason He shut the door of the ark. He was keeping out everyone who had rejected Noah’s preaching. There comes a time when God pronounces judgment. When He makes that decision, it is too late for repentance.
But we should also consider that God possesses a tremendous sense of irony, as seen in the way he dealt with a nation of murmurers. When they refused to fight against the inhabitants of the land in order to take their inheritance, they whined: “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Num. 13:3).
In response to this eloquent expression of a lack of faith, God denied them the land that would have been theirs. Instead He appointed them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. What about their children? “But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised” (Num. 14:31).
Did Israel say they feared their children would die in the wilderness? Yes, but the parents died there, and God brought their children safely into the land, which had been forfeited by complaint and unbelief.
Similarly, today the Word of God exists in abundance. Bibles continue to sell well. Possibly, many are given as gifts, which may account for their being unopened, unread, and unused. If bookshelves and coffee tables possessed intelligence and could absorb the contents of the Scriptures by osmosis, they would be vastly superior in Biblical knowledge to their owners who use them as footstools or to set refreshments upon.
The irony of creating a modern-day spiritual famine would simply be this: that all the time the Scriptures have been plentiful few have cared. Only in the time of crisis, hardship, and cruelty do some individuals decide that they need to seek God. If the opportunity to know God were suddenly gone, and if the Scriptures (so often taken for granted during tranquil times) were suddenly banned, then many would lament and seek them, but this intense, newfound interest comes too late. Consider a passage from Proverbs that expresses a similar viewpoint:
Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates of the city she speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my reproof; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and you would have none of my reproof, I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel; and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” (Pr. 1:20-33).
When we refuse to know God (though we can come to a correct knowledge of Him through the Scriptures), and when we reject the wisdom of His Word, we should not be surprised that we are lost in the day of spiritual famine (or on the day of judgment).
There may never again come a day of spiritual famine in the land, but there is always the risk of a spiritual famine in each individual’s life–if the Scriptures are ignored. Now is the time to know God–not later. “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Following is a brief list of some things concerning which the Bible speaks (and where to find them). The Bible teaches that:
1. You are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27).
2. You have sinned (Rom. 3:23).
3. Your sins have separated you from God (Isa. 59:1-2).
4. Your sins condemn you to eternal death (Rom. 6:23).
5. God loves you, regardless (John 3:16).
6. God has extended grace to you through Jesus (Eph. 2:5-9).
7. Christ died for you—even though you have loved and practiced sin (Rom. 5:6-9).
8. You may have salvation from your sins through the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5).
9. In order to access that blood, you must:
a. Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37).
b. Repent of your sins, which means you must give up the love of them and quit doing them (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38).
c. Confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37; 1 Tim. 6:12).
d. Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:38). At this point the blood of Christ will wash away your sins (Rev. 1:5; Acts 22:16). [Note: In none of these Scriptures (or in any others) did an inspired apostle say, “Pray ‘the sinner’s prayer'” or “Just have faith.” Those unfamiliar with the Bible should read first an account of Jesus’ life (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), followed by the book of Acts, which shows what people were taught to do to be saved.]
10. At the time you are baptized, you are washed, sanctified, and justified “in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).
11. When you are baptized for the forgiveness of sins, you are added to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13), which is the body of believers for whom Christ died (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23).
12. When you are buried with Christ in baptism, you arise to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5), having become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
13. You must grow with respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12).
14. This growth also comes from studying (and applying) the Word of God (Ps. 119:105; Acts 20:32).
15. There is a way in which Christians are to behave and conduct themselves. We should avoid worldliness (James 1:27) and perfect “holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1; Col. 3:1-15).
16. Death will not be the end of your existence (John 5:28-29); you (as well as every other person who has ever lived) will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of yourself (Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 14:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:10).
17. You will be assigned one of two places to live throughout eternity, depending on whether or not you are saved or lost (Luke 16:19-31). Those who have obeyed the gospel and lived faithfully before God will be saved (John 5:24; 1 Cor. 15:50-58; Heb 5:9; 1 John 5:13).
18. You have entered into the great commission and must bear fruit until that time (Matt. 18:18-20; Matt. 13:23).
19. Jesus will be with us until that day (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5-6).
20. You have an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance awaiting you at that time (Acts 20:32; 1 Peter 1:3-9).
The Bible provides all that we need to know on these (and all other) matters. God has provided a veritable feast of spiritual blessings for us–if we will just take advantage of them (Eph. 1:3). But the time is now (2 Cor. 6:2). It will be too late if God should appoint a spiritual famine in the land. Come and partake of the spiritual food He offers while the opportunity still exists.