Reason #9: They deprive themselves of time in the Word.

I find this problem to be quite common.  It is especially true of people who do not spend sufficient time in the Word for one or more of the following reasons:

• they just don’t or they choose not to,
• they lose the ability to read, or
• they lose the desire to read because they are in a pit of depression or have become disillusioned.

The Word of God is spiritual food for us. In 1 Peter 2:2 we find these words, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” In Matthew 4:4, we find Jesus saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Remember the Bible is the inspired Word of God. In Jeremiah 15:16 we find, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”

When we deprive ourselves of time in the Word, our spirit begins to dry up. It is like what would happen to your physical body if you were to just stop eating food. It would start getting weak, anemic, etc. When we deprive ourselves of time in the Word, the result is loss of hope. A remarkable illustration of this is what I call the John the Baptist Syndrome.

                               The John the Baptist Syndrome
To appreciate this, remember the time when John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Jesus with this question: “Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). Can you imagine? This same John said previously “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” and “His sandals I am not even worthy to untie.” But now he is questioning whether Jesus is the Christ. How are we to understand this? John was losing hope. John had become disillusioned. In his situation of prison confinement, John was not in the Word as he had been.

If you are questioning your salvation, examine your personal time in the Word and you personal time with the Lord in prayer. If it is lacking, that just might be an important cause for your doubt.