Miles Ahead
Life in the Express Lane
by David Jeremiah

To relieve traffic congestion, cities are now building Express Lanes into their metro freeway systems to allow commuter buses and car-poolers to speed ahead of the regular traffic flow, shaving hours off their weekly commutes.

But we also need an Information Express Lane to help us cut through the congestion of information in our culture. There are talk radio shows, TV talk shows, books, magazines, and seminars in untold numbers offering advice on how to live your life. Turning Point offers books, magazines, and radio and television broadcasts to the public, and we are happy to do so. We thank God for the opportunities to spread sound biblical teaching through various print media and on radio and television.

But, there's a difference: thousands upon thousands of sources of information, authors and hosts of all stripes, versus one source: the Bible.

The Bible is God's Information Express Lane for the modern world. As Solomon said thousands of years ago, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In spite of the technological advances of our modern world, there is nothing in the fundamental realms of human life-marriage, family, money, relationships . . . which the Bible doesn't address.

From A to Z
Do you think that out of the 700+ lifestyle topics on which the Bible offers relevant advice, you could find helpful insights on the issues you are dealing with?

I'm guessing the answer is "Yes." And I'm also suggesting to you that the Bible needs to be your and my Express Lane to cut through the cultural clutter and information congestion we deal with in our lives-a way to help us break through the "traffic jams" we get caught in when confronted with situations where we need help or advice.

Why Turn First to God's Word?
Many of the people offering advice in this world have good intentions. However, while I am not a one-Book person, I am a Bible-first person. There are many times when I have to look outside the Bible for specific help to modern questions (cars, taxes, technology, medicine). I'm willing to do so, and I believe you should be, too. Even on subjects the Bible clearly addresses (sin, family, relationships, God), I am more than willing to hear from others.

But here is what I am not willing to do: go to other sources before I have searched the Scriptures for God's perspective on the subject I am addressing. God's perspective on (name the subject) becomes the plumb line, the benchmark, by which I measure all other information. And more often than not, I find everything I need to know from Scripture.

Through the years, I have found that being a Bible-first Christian yields six key benefits:

1. Scripture converts (Psalm 19:7). Not only converted that I might be saved, but my soul (mind, will, emotions) continues to be converted (changed) as I study God's Word. The more I learn to think like God, the fewer questions in life I have.

2. Scripture convicts (2 Timothy 3:16). I am often brought down off my high horse when Scripture reveals that I am the problem, not something or someone outside of me.

3. Scripture cleanses (John 17:17). Trust me on this one: the more pure my life, the fewer crises that erupt which send me scrambling for help. The Bible purifies my life.

4. Scripture comforts (Romans 15:4). Sometimes having answers-even God's answers-doesn't make the pain go away. But Scripture assures me that God is with me through everything.

5. Scripture counsels (Proverbs 1:1-6). This is the heart of this article. Remember: 700+ topics are waiting for you to explore in God's Word when you need direction.

6. Scripture corrects (Proverbs 4:1-27). Scripture has an uncanny ability to correct my steps and solve my problems if I will just read it before launching out on a fact-finding mission.

Next time you find yourself stuck in traffic, pop in a Scripture cassette, work on your Bible memory cards, or spend time in prayer. Let God's Word become your own Personal Express Lane to solving all of life's pressing issues.

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Dr. Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point for God and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. For more information on Turning Point, go to www.DavidJeremiah.org.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009