How to Read the Bible and Stay in the Dark

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

As with Zacharias the angel used the word "shall" a number of times. That which was impossible would come to pass. This miracle would take place. The miracle child would be a male. His name would be "Jesus." He would be great, the Son of the Highest, and He would inherit the throne of His ancestor King David. He would reign over the House of Jacob, and His Kingdom would be everlasting. It would be eternal. Forever.

But notice Mary’s reaction to this incredible news. At face value her reaction was similar to that of Zacharias. However, she wasn’t struck dumb for unbelief. This is because she asked in faith (see verse 45). She didn’t doubt God in the slightest. He said it would happen, so it would surely come to pass.

If you or I search through the Scriptures in a proud and skeptical spirit, we will come up with nothing but dry bones. There will be no life in them. Reading the Bible without trust is like reading a book in the dark. Faith is a light, and the life will go out of any marriage if one spouse loses faith in the other. This is the case with human relationships, and also the case with God (see Hebrews 11:6).

Those who ask in faith hear from God. He resists the proud skeptic and gives grace to the humble seeker of truth. They that seek do find. Those who knock do have the door opened for them. If you are not seeking God, you need to. You and I are a sinners and we desperately need a Savior. If you don’t believe that, that’s your problem. Unbelief. It’s a killer.