I have noticed in my dealing with men that when it comes to things that are important to them they go to someone who has information for the help they need. If they have car trouble they go to a mechanic. If they have financial needs they go to a bank, for legal problems they seek out a lawyer. Yet when it comes to a person's relationship with God and the truths contained in the bible, I have yet to meet a person who is not an AUTHORITY! Everyone you meet knows how to be saved they know what it takes to go to heaven and they know who gets to go. They know how to "live right" and know who is a hypocrite. Oh how quick they will tell you what they "think" and tell you "I believe" and they feel they must give you their opinion about the bible, about God, about Christ, about sin and how a sinner is saved. Yes, every mother's son knows what the bible says. But if asked to show you were they get their "I KNOW", if asked to give chapter and verse, they usually answer, "I don't no where it is in the bible, but it is in there somewhere".
God calls a man to preach, teaches him the gospel of Grace, makes him a student of the Holy Scriptures, gives him a some knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the ways of God and sinful man. But do men seek out someone who can deal with their souls from the bible? NO! They will seek out help on the things that are temporal and of no eternal consequence but when it comes to their souls they feel they are as much an authority as anyone else. They are too proud; they love themselves too much to see their need of guidance. They aren't like the Ethiopian who when asked "Understand what you are reading?"His reply, "How can I except some man guide me"? (Acts 8:30) They don't know that the truth is a revelation and unless God gives men eyes to see, they are so blind they can't even see that they are blind (Jn. 9:39-40).
No matter, if men won't seek truth, I will, no matter, that men feel they know all they need to know about God and how He saves sinners, and are confident that they "will go to heaven when they die". As for me, I will by God's grace seek the "excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; that I may win Christ and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, but the righteousness of God which is through faith in Christ." Let men claim to know what they will, I want to know Christ, I want to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Cod in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:8).May God teach me and you the "Truth" as it is in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:21)