Several years ago, when I ran across a book entitled Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten, I knew that I was in trouble since I never went to kindergarten. However, I have since come to realize that everything I really needed to know, I learned by reading chapter three, verse sixteen.
By reading John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” I learned a number of important lessons about salvation:
1) There is a God.
2) He loves—not hates—me.
3) Jesus is His son.
4) I have a choice to make.
5) Depending on what choice I make, I will either perish or inherit eternal life.
Next I turned to Luke 3:16, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire,” where I learned some important principles about baptism in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit:
1) Water baptism is a requirement of the Christian faith.
2) Holy Ghost baptism is necessary for the Christian life.
3) Sanctification (the baptism of fire) is essential for Christian holiness.
In Acts 3:16, “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all,” I gained some pertinent truths about healing:
1) Physical, as well as spiritual, healing is available.
2) Faith is the key to receiving physical healing.
3) It is only through the name and authority of Jesus that we can experience miraculous healing and deliverance.
By turning to II Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” I got a new revelation on the inspiration of scripture:
1) The Word of God is inerrant.
2) It is important for us in such uncertain times to have something in life that is certain.
3) The inerrant Word must benefit me and have an effect on my life that brings me to a place of change and where the errors in my life can be dealt with.
In flipping to the end of the Book and reading Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth,” I learned an important lesson about being lukewarm:
The Christian life is the “real deal” and it cannot be taken half-heartedly or nonchalantly.
In I Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” I was confronted with some powerful truths about seeing myself as the very temple of Holy Spirit:
1) I’m not trash; I’m God’s habitation.
2) I’d better change the way I act to reflect my noble position.
3) I’d better think more positively about myself since God Himself considers me worthy to be His habitation.
James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work,” helped me to understand something about envy:
If I’m not careful about how I feel toward others, I can get myself into an awful fix with every evil work operating in my life.
It was in I John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” that I learned about unselfish giving: Christianity isn’t just receiving; it’s really about giving.
Finally, in II Thessalonians 3:16, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all,” I came to know several important truths about peace in my Christian life:
1) God is a God of peace.
2) He is willing to give me His peace.
3) If I’m not living in peace, I’m certainly not living in the fullness of Christ’s provisions and possibly not living in Him at all.
I’m sure that I missed a lot by not getting to go to kindergarten, but I’m thankful that I did get to go to chapter three, verse sixteen!