The elephant and the light...

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Today's thought:

Hebrews 1:1-2, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."

Do you remember the famous story about the six blind men and the elephant? One blind man touches the belly of the animal and thinks it's a wall. Another grabs the elephant's ear and thinks he's touching a fan. A third blind man touches the tail and thinks he's holding a rope. On they go, each grabbing a part of the elephant without any one of them knowing what it is they really feel.

What's the point of the story? We are all blind men when it comes to God. We know part of him, but we don't know really know who he is, we are all just grasping in the dark, thinking we know more than we do.

But there are two major problems with this analogy. First, the whole story is told from the vantage point of someone who clearly knows that the elephant is an elephant. For the story to make its point, the narrator has to have clear and accurate knowledge of the elephant. The second flaw with this story is even more serious. The story is a perfectly good description of human inability to know God by our own devices. But the story never considers this paradigm-shattering question: What if the elephant talks? What if he tells the blind men: "That wall-like structure is my side. That fan is really my ear. And that's not a rope; it's a tail." If the elephant were to say all this, would the six blind me be considered humble for ignoring his word?

God has spoken. To ignore or neglect His words is like a man dying of thirst in the desert, coming upon and oasis with a clear running stream, and passing on. When I read one of my favorite books like "Mere Christianity," by CS Lewis, something almost mystical is happening. The thoughts of a man now long gone are living in my mind. I am thinking his thoughts after him. When I pick up my Bible and begin to read I am thinking the very thoughts of the infinite Mind after Him. This is the power of the written word. It has the power to transform our thoughts and influence our minds for good or evil. When those thoughts are God's thoughts they have the power to save (Romans 10:17), to sanctify or make holy (John 17:17), to transform (Hebrews 4:12), and to bless our lives as James tells us in James 1:22-25, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

Can such a little thing as reading a book really make a difference in my life? Yes! A life transforming difference. If your new to Bible reading start with the book of John in the New Testament. Then read it asking God to reveal Himself through those words. He will! Read it. Do it. Be blessed in all you do. "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105). May the path before you be revealed by the light of His word.

Prayer: Father, You could have been distant but You came near. Your Word came to heal us, forgive us, save us, and change us. We thank You and praise You for the Word, Your Son Jesus, and Your word, the Bible. What a privilege to think Your thoughts after You. May we not just hear but also do. In Jesus name, amen.