The plane on which I was travelling touched down on the runway of the airport and taxied to the terminal. I unbuckled my seat-belt, collected my carry-on luggage and filed out through the exit corridor into the passenger lounge.

   As usual, I had no idea who might have been sent to meet me. And usually my airport greeters have no idea what I look like either. On many occasions I have inadvertently walked right past those who were waiting for me. Sometimes they have prepared a sign identifying their organization, or a sign with my name on it. But the usual scenario has me looking for a puzzled face that looks like it does not know what it is looking for, and they, likewise, are looking for a passenger with a hopeful facial expression. Somewhat hesitatingly, I ask, "Are you looking for Jim Fowler?" If they are not "the party meeting Jim Fowler," I always feel embarrassed, expecting them to reply, "No, and who do you think you are, anyway?"

   On this particular occasion the airport greeters had been given a photograph of me to make identification easier. But you will not believe what they did! They foolishly figured that the picture would suffice for the person of Jim Fowler ­ that the representation would suffice for the reality ­ and they took the picture back home and left me waiting at the airport. How could anyone be so foolish?

   Do not be too quick to judge now!

   The photograph is a picture by which the person is to be recognized, correctly identified and personally received. The photographic representation is intended to reveal the right person, and to prevent the embarrassing mistake of embracing the wrong person.

   But many Christians today ­ like my airport greeters ­ are content to possess the representation without the reality. They are proud of their persistent perusal of the picture and unconcerned about meeting and fellowshipping with the Person.

   Scripture, like the picture, is intended to serve as an instrument by which the Person of Jesus Christ is recognized, correctly identified and personally received for who He is. The Biblical record is to serve as a printed representation to reveal the right Person, Jesus Christ, and to prevent the embarrassing (and in this case, eternally costly) mistake of embracing the wrong person, the wrong spirit, another gospel, another Jesus.

   Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life" (John 5:39).

   Christianity must not be allowed to degenerate into a mere book-religion that exalts the Bible above the living Lord, Jesus Christ. It is not God's intent that we be merely "people of the Book," but rather that we be Christ-ones, Christians, allowing the living dynamic of the Divine Word to be expressed in the character of our lives.