In the “Bible Patch”

You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. John 5:39

I had to opportunity this past week to spend a brief amount of time in the “oil patch” (courtesy of my oil drilling friend, Bob Ratts). As always, I tried to learn something. Bob talked easily about drilling for oil because he’s done it most of his life. And it is interesting stuff. I was reminded of the Scripture, John 5:39. Those fellows in the “oil patch” are searching for “liquid gold”. At least saying it that way sounds good.

I asked Bob if the work was dangerous, or just hard. “Both”, he said. If you are going to find the treasure deep under the Earth, you are going to have to deal with the dangers of working on an oil rig, and it’s not an easy job. Those guys get dirty, and they get tired, and sometimes they don’t find what they are looking for. But they keep at it.

I think that is like each of us in relationship to “searching the Scriptures.” If you are going to mine the treasures you have to get deep into the Word of God. And it too is dangerous. When you begin to discover real Truth and apply it to your daily life, the enemy will find a multitude of ways to attack you, hurt you, and keep you off balance. It is hard work as well. There are always other things to do, always easier tasks to embrace, and it’s always easier to give up thinking it can’t be done. Sometimes we get tired, and sometimes we don’t find the answer we are looking for because God has a different way or a unique plan that doesn’t fit our design.

I asked Bob, out there in the “oil patch,” how long it takes to learn the job. If you just showed up for work today, how soon would you know it all? “Never”, he replied. “It just changes with every situation, everything is different next time.” And so it is with mining the Word of God. Not that it changes. We are the ones who change. And by the power of His Spirit the Truth strikes us differently at various points along our walk of faith.

Perhaps in your study of God’s Word you have not found what you are looking for yet. Keep at it! The “gold” is in there. It is an endless supply of mercy and grace and the seat of His riches for our lives. When you are weary, read on. When the enemy attacks, read on. In the “Bible patch” you’ll find the inestimable wealth of God.