To read a very old letter, written by a very important person in history can be interesting--fascinating even. To peer into history and understand a someone very old from long ago, with their own mind and their own hand penned these thoughts; someone with like passions, and needs. The thoughts of a great king, perhaps, who penned words that shaped a kingdom, or commanded great armies and birthed a nation. Perhaps even we might read to gain philosophy just a little, and wisdom for our own lives today.
I think we look to the Bible like that many times, but it's really not enough to view it that way and experience it's true intended purpose. God is not just trying to impress us, and it's been pointed out before that if He wanted robots He surely could have built them. Our King, was, and is, and is to come. When He writes (what He wrote), He writes not just for one time, but for all time. I don't mean there is never any historic context, but that what He wrote is applicable to all people for all time present then, now, and to come. I think we've probably heard the Bible referred to as a love letter. I think I can agree with that in many ways, that is true. Maybe so or maybe not, but it certainly comprised of letter, and the overall theme is love. God is love, and that we should love God with our whole hearts.
Our God is not dead Who penned this letter long ago, but is alive today. Being alive, is He merely an observer seeing what we will do, or will He send us a comforter? Does he actually engage with us, truly? I believe the Bible teaches us that He is ready to reciprocate that love. It's not just, "Here at my Words, go and do them." No, it is "Here are my Words, come to me, and go do them." We read, "yet you refuse toe come to me..." (John 5:39-57).
It's not for lack of going to the Scriptures that they would not inherit eternal life, but it's for lack of going to Jesus in Spirit and Truth for something much, much more. Beyond the reading of Scripture that has the power to fascinate minds and hearts for many reasons in an intellectual and curious way. It's possible to be fascinated with God, stimulated by His works, amazed by His wisdom, and yet still miss Him and not have eternal life.
"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you."
Just as the love letters that are written to and from those we love who are alive today, there is a relationship and a reaction in giving and receiving that love. It's not just a fascination or appreciation for those words, and off you go. There is a relationship, as we face in some tangible way the one who wrote it. If the Bible is a love letter, it is not enough to read it. It wasn't for them spoken of in John 5:39 (though they were diligent in their reading), and it's not enough today. It is not enough that the love be on the page, but the love of God must inside of you. As Jesus said, "come to me that you may have life..." There is a holy departing, if you will, for the one who believes as they lift their eyes from the Scriptures, and go to God in a very real and actual way.
For, "without faith it is impossible to please him, but "whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
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