Most people are unaware that they possess an inner, God-given capability for understanding spiritual truth. It is part of what it means to be created in the image of God. But like many built-in features, it often lies dormant until awakened.
Think of Us Humans as a Computer System
1. The brain is the hardware. It contains the physical structure—neurons, pathways, memory—much like the circuitry of a computer.
2. The intellect is the operating system. It organizes information, reasons about it, and provides the framework for thought, similar to Windows, macOS, or Linux.
3. The Bible is the installed program. It contains the instructions, truth, and wisdom God intends to run within the human soul.
But just as a computer program must be installed before the computer can produce meaningful output, Scripture must be received and absorbed—“written on the heart”—before it can transform a person’s understanding.
Of course, this is only an analogy. We are not computers, and God is not a programmer; but the picture helps us see how spiritual understanding often lies dormant until God’s Word truly takes root in us.
Reading the Bible Is the Installation Process
- “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
- “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
- “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Until the Word enters, the spiritual understanding remains unactivated—like a computer running without meaningful software. But when Scripture is absorbed, meditated upon, and believed, the inner life begins to function as God intended. Reading installs the program; obeying what we read is how it truly runs in daily life.
A New Kind of Output
The One who actually “installs” and “runs” this program in us is the Holy Spirit. He takes the written Word and makes it a living word to the heart—opening our eyes, convicting us of truth, and pointing us to Christ (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13). Once the “program” is installed correctly, the results change:
- Confusion becomes clarity.
- Doubt gives way to conviction.
- Moral darkness yields to light.
- God’s purposes begin to make sense.
- Creation itself becomes intelligible in a new way.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Ultimately, the purpose of Scripture is not just to give us information but to lead us to a Person. The written word points us to the Living Word—Jesus the Messiah (John 1:1, 14; John 5:39–40).
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3–9, NKJV)
“Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Jesus’ Interpretation of the Parable (Matthew 13:18–23, NKJV)
“Therefore, hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
If you aren’t presently reading the Bible daily, here are a few reading plans that may help you get started and continue reading until you have the entire program installed. The link will take you to the Bible Reading Plans offered by Ligonier Ministries, where you can download one of the plans and print it out to help you keep track of your daily study and meditation on the Word of God.