Something more exalted than His Name!

The Apostle Paul had an amazing conversion: “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven” ( Acts 9:3). This Light was nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ who revealed himself to Paul as the God of all mercy. Later we read of Paul receiving a direct visitation: “ And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11).

These experiences along with Paul being taken up to the third heaven were irrefutable proof of the resurrection of Jesus given to the Apostle. However, when Paul made his defense of the gospel in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, he does not offer these TRUE spiritual experiences as the foundation of what he believed. He referred to something even greater and more exalted than the Name of the Lord— the written Word of God!!!

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. —Psalms 138:2

This is absolutely amazing! Paul does not say, “Jesus is alive because I saw a Light!” As true as that was,he refers to something even more sure: “ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The scriptures are the true revelation of the Living God. All direction individually and corporately must find there origin rooted and grounded in the eternal truths found within its pages, are else shipwreck is unavoidable! Do you want a word from God? Go to the Rock! Go to the scriptures !!