A friend at work has just purchased a new automobile and he really likes all the bells and whistles that are on it. He has expressed amazement at the thickness of the automobile manual that came with his new car. He has spent a number of evenings reading the manual so he can learn how to benefit from all its gadgets and features.

Now this man who is so willing to read his manual to learn how to operate his automobile has never found the time to read his Bible.

The Bible is also a manual, a manual written by God to help us get the most out of life. It is interesting how many people take time to read automobile manuals, computer manuals and the like, but never find time to read the manual that has the key to life eternal.

My friend believes it is to his advantage to read his manual so that he can receive the maximum benefit from his complex automobile. He is right. The question is, which is more important: to know and understand the fine features of your automobile or to know and understand the promises which are able to make one wise unto salvation?

We have yet to find a computer buff who does not pore over his manual to learn the access codes and to get his computer to do what he wants. He does not argue that any key will do (as people say any religion will suffice), that all the buttons lead to the same place, that as long as the computer operator is sincere then his computer will work just fine.

Isn’t it interesting how logical and sensible we can be about the things of the world and yet how many fail to transfer this analytical attitude to the things of God.

Is it possible for us to successfully operate a computer if we do not know the program? Can we access its data base if we do not know the command? Is the program at fault because our ignorance keeps it from functioning properly?

Is it possible for us to please God if we ignore the fact that He is the master programmer of the universe and He has made us, and He has made the laws that have been set in motion for our well-being and salvation?

The laws of God work whether we believe them or not, whether we understand them or not. If we go against His laws, we suffer. The law of gravity is a fact. We are safer to understand it than we are to defy it. Our ignorance of it is not bliss. The program of life will only work when we know it and cooperate with all the rules made by the master programmer.

We often sing, ”God’s law is perfect, and converts the soul in sin that lies; God’s testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise.”

This is true, but we must know God’s law to be converted; we must understand God’s testimonies to become wise.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish but most will, not because He wants them to, but because they refuse to learn His word and obey His commands.

David was a man after God’s own heart because he loved God’s law and meditated upon it all the day. He said to God, ”Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” If we love God, we will also love His word and strive to obey His commandments.