This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It’s a traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, our good is its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.

The Bible is, in many ways, a most unusual book in that it has a dual authorship. In other words, God is the author of the Bible and in another sense men are the authors of the Bible. And there is a collusion here; and that’s the collusion of the Holy Spirit. I mean that the Bible is a God-human book, a God-man book, and in many senses the Bible is very much like the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. You see, He came to this earth and became incarnate. He was both God and man, and John put it in this simple way: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Now we have the universal worship of the Savior and Sovereign of the universe. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth … and all that are in them, heard I saying, ‘Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.’” Oh, my friend, I think the proper way to conclude this today would be for me to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus”! But I do believe that as we come to the end of this very remarkable scene in heaven that we see that all praise and honor and worship must go to the Lord Jesus Christ! And if you’re not in the habit of praising Him and worshiping Him, why don’t you start right now?

And where it says here “it is created for thy pleasure,” it’s actually should be “because of Thy will.” This is very important to see. That the reason that God created this earth and things are as they are, because it was in His plan and purpose. Now I don’t understand a great deal that He’s doing. I don’t understand a great deal about this universe that I live in. But I do know this—that it’s created this way because that’s the way He wanted it. He’s in charge. And we’re to worship Him because He created this little earth. I’m glad I was in the plan and purpose of God. I’m glad He created me. And so, we worship Him because of that.

Now the church in Ephesus, there was a warning given and it’s for us today. There was a danger of getting away from the best love—that is, getting away from a personal and loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Now when you love Him, then you will be in a right relationship with Him. I think the real test today of any believer, especially those that are attempting to serve Him, is not your little method or your little mode or your little system or your dedication and all that sort of thing that is so emphasized today. The one question is: Do you love Him? Do you love the Lord Jesus?

Here in the third chapter of Revelation, at verse 22: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Now this is a message—a special message—from the Lord Jesus to all the churches. That you need the blood-tipped ear to hear. And that’s the reason that today you and I need to be very careful about our study of the Word of God, that we not run ahead of the Spirit of God, but that we let Him be our teacher. If you have an ear, a blood-tipped ear, why He wants you to hear what He has to say. And only the Spirit of God can make that real to us. These are the things that are, because it relates to the period in which we live.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me.” Now this is a picture of the Lord Jesus at the heart’s door of the sinner. It’s a glorious picture. He stands at the door and knocks. Now He won’t crash the door. The Lord Jesus will move and He has moved heaven and hell to get to the door of your heart. But when He gets there, He’ll stop and knock. And you’ll have to open the door to let Him in. That is the picture that is there.

“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” Now this is the only place in Scripture where “Amen” is a proper name, and it’s the name of Christ. And I read 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The Lord Jesus is the Amen. He has the last word. He’s the Alpha and the Omega. And so, we have here the fact that He is the One that’s going to fulfill all the promises of God.

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my faith.” Now He says, “I have given thee a door open which none can shut….” Now that could be a door to the joy of the Lord or to a knowledge of the Scriptures. And I personally think that it is a door to the knowledge of the Scriptures, which means if He opens the door, He intends for you to move in because He’ll open a door of opportunity for witnessing and proclaiming the Word of God. And I believe that both go together.

The Lord Jesus is looking for fruit. He’s looking for works in the lives of believers. We have been saved by grace, but we’ve been “created unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” And friends, there’s something wrong with your faith if it doesn’t produce works. That’s the thing you remember that James says. This man said, “You show me your faith without your works, I will show you my faith by my works.” Now works is not works of law; works of faith. Saving faith produces works. Calvin said, “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone.” It produces something.