The Everlasting Gospel
“I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word” (Psalm 119:168, 169).
To get a true understanding of Scripture is like piecing together a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. If we are not patient and careful, we may try to force the wrong piece into the wrong place. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).
This “precept-upon-precept” idea is the method of study used by the believers of the early Advent movement. They were God-fearing people such as William Miller. He took the complete concordance of the Bible and studied deeply each instance where a certain word was used in Scripture. When the believers used this method, the correct picture came into place. It was complete and whole—not like half of an unfinished jigsaw puzzle.
Sometimes when people are stubborn, they may try to force the Bible to say something it does not—just like the forced puzzle piece. They know something, but they stop their study to try to make Scripture say what they want to say instead of patiently seeking God’s word for the real answer. This is what the Pharisees did in the time of Christ—and sadly it is also what many people do today.
So the next time you see a jigsaw puzzle, think of how much it is like the way we are to study the Word of God. By faithful study of His Word and meek surrender to His will, your life can be like the beautiful work of art that God wants you to be. And you’ll be much happier in the end!