Recently, I risked my life to prove the importance of reading the Bible. One Sunday I decided not to sit but instead stand on the stool that is up on stage where I preach. I jumped up on the small seat of that stool, which was a definite insurance risk but hopefully a helpful reminder to read the Bible.

What point was I trying to prove? That the highest, smartest, and wisest of us is not even close to God. As I stood on the stool, I towered above everyone in the room, yet I was still so far below the clouds, stars, and God. I was still exponentially smaller than God. Here’s how Isaiah expressed it: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (55:8,9). 

This is why we need the Bible. Without God revealing the wisdom of heaven, all we have is the wisdom of earth. Your feelings, my opinions, national surveys, and church traditions might be better and wiser than others, but they are still light-years from the wisdom of God. So if you want true wisdom, turn your ear to the heavens as you turn your eyes to the Word.

Without the Bible, there are only our thoughts. With the Bible, we receive the thoughts of God. And what thoughts they are!