The ability to retain and recall information at will is perceived as being intelligent by the world, it denotes the ability of memorization skills that can be applied in a person’s life to achieve a specific goal. Yet most who have this capability are “task specific,” one would not call an exceptional mathematician to repair their refrigerator, nor would that repairman who is capable of doing so be called to speak at a conference on theoretical mathematics.
There are those in both trades though that can summon their talents at will, they are proficient in many areas, and are the individuals sought out by large corporations for their intellect, and the ability to apply it to nearly every needed avenue. These are not what are considered the average person. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
I would suggest that nearly every born-again believer has at least one verse of the Word of God memorized, I have personally met those that have committed to memory entire Books of the Bible, yet if all either one of these groups does is nothing more than recite the Words of God, they are indeed to be pitied. We are to apply the Word of God to our lives, and here is where many who claim Christ as Lord have faltered, that is the only place where they do so, in their own lives.
The information that the majority of people accept into their minds is most generally no more than that day’s current events, they are used as talking points with those they meet each day, and are generally of no eternal value whatsoever, they are interesting, but not profitable. With the advent of the cellular phone, we have achieved a society of bent-necked individuals who stare at, for the most part, completely useless information all the day long. They are amused, they are finding information, but they are not growing either intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually.
If you are applying yourself to the Scriptures for the glory of God in your life more than twenty minutes a day, you are an anomaly, you are not the “average Christian,” the “average Christian” could perhaps count that same amount of time in a month, at best. They will claim that Jesus is precious to them, yet the amount of time they spend in the Scriptures as compared to the time they allot each day to the world, and thereby to self, does not validate their statement. They may occasionally read His Word, but the application of it goes no further than their own mind, their own walk with the Lord, and His name is rarely mentioned in present company.
It is safer, so to speak, to claim to oneself to have a personal relationship with the Lord than to exhibit it in front of others.
They are silent towards their fellow man, save for an occasional memorized verse. There is little passion in the lives of many believers in the Lord Jesus today, it has been replaced with that “personal” relationship, the concern with self, in their own image of what they believe they are to be in His eyes, the betterment of self has replaced the following of the commandments of our Lord. It was a brilliant idea of Satan, and it has brought us to the place we find ourselves in today, the great falling away.
A life lived for Christ is a life lived for others, for those we call our brothers and sisters in Christ. “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:11) And for those souls that still deny the Lordship of our Lord. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) It is a fine trap indeed, make them believe they are saved because they have hidden the Word of God in their hearts, while at the same time keeping them embarrassed about speaking of His glory to others, for we would not want to offend, would we? Fearful, embarrassed, enabling, all-inclusive, welcome to the apostacy.
