A few nights ago I caught the last segment of the movie, You’ve Got Mail. It was inspired by the AOL audio message that announced the arrival of email in your inbox. It was quite the thing, cutting-edge technology back in the 80s. The email concept revolutionized the way we receive messages.
Today texting has eclipsed email as the vehicle of choice for messaging. Many of us have been around long enough to remember the days of letters and cards that came by snail mail. We’ve come a long way since the earliest communication was etched onto cave walls and rocks.
But humans aren’t the only ones to alter their communication methods. In the chosen text for today, we learn that God has changed His means of speaking to us. However, His method of communication didn’t change because of technological advances. God’s new method was part of His eternal plan for redemption.
He had spoken “through the prophets at many times and in various ways. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” Good news. You’ve got mail… from God.
In yesterday’s text, I referenced John 1:1-2 in which John calls Jesus, the Word. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God sent us the most important message we’ll ever receive, and the messenger was His Son.
God speaks to us through the Bible which is the record of God’s revelation handed down “through the prophets at many times and in various ways” and through “His Son.” That message is recorded in the New Testament, and we understand it due to the illumination of the indwelling Spirit.
I can’t recall a time in my life when there wasn’t a Bible lying around the house. As a boy, occasionally I picked it up, fumbled through the pages, and attempted to read a few passages. But I didn’t like to read from it because it was painfully difficult to understand, and it seemed the parts I comprehended were frightening and troubling. The problem? I had not yet given my life to Christ. Becoming a Christian changes your entire perspective on the Bible.
Over the years you will receive much communication from many different people. But nothing shared will have greater importance or meaning than God’s revelation through His Son.
When you enter into a close personal relationship with God, you discover the Bible takes on a whole new meaning. You realize that God has something incredibly important to say to you. His word speaks to your circumstances, and gives hope for living.
To communicate with God, you don’t need a laptop, iPhone, or any of the other high-tech gadgets we use today. Just talk to Him. Tell Him everything. He wants to be involved in your life. But remember, to complete the communication transaction, you have to listen to Him. He will speak to you through His word, the Bible. As His words take root in your heart, you will hear Him speaking back to you.
Encouragement, hope, advice, direction, meaning, correction — it’s all available to you at this moment and forever. In fact, God is speaking to you right now. You’ve got mail.