According to the New York Times, Sam Sebastiani, Jr., a member of one of California’s most prominent winemaking families, died several years ago in a rather unusual way: he ate poisonous mushrooms that he had gathered near his home in Santa Rosa. The mushroom he is thought to have eaten was an Amanita phalloides, also known as the death-cap mushroom; toxins in its cap destroy the victim’s liver by rupturing the cells. It is the cause of 95 percent of lethal mushroom poisoning worldwide and is fatal more than 35 percent of the time. Experts warn that this poisonous variety closely resembles nonpoisonous mushrooms, and they caution that careful training is necessary before anyone should attempt to gather and consume mushrooms on their own. According to the article, “One of the most sinister aspects of deadly mushroom poisoning is the delay between ingestion and onset of symptoms. The stronger the poison, the longer it takes to show itself, and by the time a patient is aware of the problem, it may be too late.” Roseanne Soloway, a poison-control-center administrator, was quoted in the article as saying, “A level of presumed expertise is not enough to save your life.”
Frankly, a level of presumed expertise is not enough to navigate the journey of life itself. As disciples of Jesus, we need His guidance if we are to experience abundant living. Jesus said as much in John 8.31-32 (NIV): “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The place to which we can always turn for this truth is the Bible, God’s Word, which is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16 NIV). The Bible helps us grow in our understanding of God, of the salvation He has provided through His Son Jesus, and of life itself. The Bible enables us to both learn Jesus’ teachings and apply them in everyday life; it warns us of the “poisonous” false teachings about life that we should avoid, and it offers us practical ways of safely and securely following Jesus into the harvest fields of life. Daily Bible study, along with regular study with other Christians, is as important to spiritual growth as regular and healthy nutrition is important to physical growth. It’s a basic characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
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