The Blessings of Sound Doctrine
(Part four of a four-part series)

Great peace have they which love thy law…
Psalm 119:165

To be optimally prepared for the devastations of life, we must know Him, and we must believe what He has said. We do not have to know much about God to reap the blessings of sound doctrine but what we do know needs to be correct. A firm grounding in the basic truths surrounding the person and work of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, is all that is needed to weather the storms of life. A correct view of God is the fertile ground where the seeds of faith can grow. 

So, what do I need to know?

I need to know that God is good and that He loves me. I can trust Him.

I know you have heard this before but hearing it repeatedly does not water down the Truth that everything God does or allows is motivated by His love for us.

Who can tell his height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low he descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony–to endure a death of shame and desertion by his Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that “passeth knowledge.” O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.  C.H. Spurgeon

I need to know that God is God and I am not.

Life is often unfair. I am not the center of the universe and neither is my pain. It’s not about me. God’ s plan is all about Him and His Glory. We tend to chafe at this because we are self-focused. As we walk around in our own skin, we view everything that happens to us through the lens of self: How does this make me feel? How does this impact my life? Why did this happen to me?

So then, is God self-focused when He asks us to honor and glorify Him? He would be if He were not holy and just. But because He is perfect and sinless, we can trust that what He requires is not only reasonable but is the best possible course. He has our best interest in mind at all times. Of who else on the earth could this be honestly said?

Every event in my life must be evaluated through the lens of “Thus saith the Lord.” It is God’s universe and He makes the rules. I do not have to understand them or even like them, but not believing them is foolish and irrational. If God is God, then He must know what He is doing. It is best to just relax and let Him run things.

Understanding that God is good and that He is the sovereign ruler of the universe are two great truths to think upon when preparing for or coping with the storms of life. But there is so much more to knowing God. I want to encourage you to seek out teachers of the Word of God that understand and value sound doctrine. Ask the Lord to lead you away from false or compromising teachers and to bring godly encouragers into your life. Look for a group of believers who can help you understand the hard sayings of Scripture and help you steer clear of error. And pray. The Lord honors a sincere heart-desire for His truth. He wants you to know Him.

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Psalm 119:114

Resources:

How Can I Know God?
The Bible
Grace To You
Who is Jesus?
Friends of Israel
The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689

Strengthened According to His Word: Part One of a Four Part Series