Clear communication is essential for life to function well. We are most aware of it when it is missing. If assembly instructions are not clear, we are likely to have left over parts and a product that doesn’t work well. If navigation instructions aren’t clear, we get lost. Sometimes advertisers have gotten my attention with a catchy ad, but I later had no idea what product they hoped I would buy. When communication isn’t clear, it is ineffective.
When my husband and I had an opportunity to travel to Europe, the language differences created challenges. Fortunately, many Europeans spoke English, and we could communicate. However, in some of the French-speaking areas, if the people we encountered knew English they didn’t admit it. I thought my three years of high school French would be helpful. Silly me. My French only got us into trouble. At one point, in a small café, something I said to our waiter prompted everyone in the dining area to laugh. Uproariously. They never did let us in on the joke. Evidently, my use of French was unclear.
When clear communication is absent, understanding is limited.
Our God, who created us, wants to communicate with us. Ever since He spoke the world into being, He has proclaimed a clear and consistent message. He spoke clearly to Adam and Eve in the Garden. In the midst of His generous provision, He gave them one clear restriction, and warned them about disobedience. They disobeyed. As a result, we are all born with our own sin nature, and we live in a broken world.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible expresses one clear theme. God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has all authority and deserves our worship and obedience. Sin corrupted the perfect world He created. God, who has perfect knowledge, was not surprised by man’s sin. He prepared His plan of redemption before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4).
God created us to spend eternity with Him. He provided the way for mankind to be redeemed, through knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 14:6). It is only through trusting in His life, death, and resurrection, that we can find forgiveness for sin. One day, Jesus will come back. He will judge the unbelieving world. In perfect justice, He will destroy evil and make everything right. There are terrible times ahead for an unbelieving, unrepentant world. Those who ignore God’s authority are still accountable to Him. Those who reject Him will spend all of eternity apart from Him in unimaginable suffering. God has warned us and wants us to avoid His wrath.
Throughout the Bible, and throughout recorded history, God has reached out to mankind. In His love He gives us every opportunity to turn to Him and seek forgiveness for sin. He longs for us to turn to Him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The Bible is not just a collection of stories, though it does contain some good ones. It is not just an instruction manual, though it does counsel us on the best ways to do life. The Bible is really a love letter from God to us. He wants us to know Him, to learn His character, glimpse His heart, and build a relationship with Him.
Not every detail of the Bible is clear. We have to trust God with the things we can’t understand. But the overall message of the Bible is very clear: We have all sinned and fall short of God’s perfect standard. We must acknowledge our sin and His authority. Those who turn to Him in faith have a glorious future ahead, throughout all eternity.
God has communicated clearly. It is up to us to listen and take His words to heart.
Jesus said, Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 NIV
How have you been encouraged by God’s clear communication? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay (Communication)
Thanks for the post, Phyllis. I’m grateful for God’s clear guidance, and that I’m His. Praying that everyone seeks God, accepts Christ so they can spend eternity with Him.
Thank you, Joni.