Volume 27: Read the Text Not Your Imagination

I’m not writing this to sound smart or educated. I’m writing this because I’m concerned.

Concerned about sheep being misled.
Concerned about personalities being louder than Scripture.
Concerned about people quoting sayings but not the Word.

Somewhere along the way, we stopped reading the Bible and started reading into it.

When that happens, truth gets replaced with imagination.

Scripture warns us plainly: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

That time is not coming. It is here.

What Is Hermeneutics—and Why It Matters

Hermeneutics is not a big word to impress people. It’s a necessary discipline to protect truth. It simply means interpreting Scripture correctly.

Not guessing.
Not assuming.
Not inserting your feelings.
But letting the Bible explain itself.

Scripture says, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). That means the Bible doesn’t need your creativity to come alive. It demands your submission.

Paul told Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Rightly dividing means there is a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way is dangerous.

Read What It Says—Not What Sounds Good

We’ve grown comfortable with clichés.

“God just wants you happy.”
“Walk in your season.”
“Speak it into existence.”

They sound good. They preach well. They might even motivate people to give more. But if they are not rooted in the text, they are not truth.

Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

Avoid opinions. Avoid trends.
Avoid viral sermons. The Word alone is truth.

And when you don’t stay anchored in the Word, you start building messages that tickle ears instead of transforming hearts (2 Timothy 4:3).

The First Light Was Not the Sun

Let’s read the text as an example.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:1, 3).

But keep reading. The sun, moon, and stars were not created until day four (Genesis 1:14–19).

So what was the light in Genesis 1:3? Scripture answers Scripture.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4–5).

“That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world” (John 1:9).

The first light was not created light. It was revealed Light. It points to Christ. Because Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12).

When you read the Bible correctly, it interprets itself.

Genesis introduces the Light.
John reveals the Light.
Jesus embodies the Light.

That’s hermeneutics.

When You Miss This, You Become Vulnerable

If you don’t let Scripture explain Scripture, you will start leaning on something else.

Your feelings.
Your personality.
Your imagination.

That is where danger lives. Scripture says, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Notice—an angel of light. Not darkness. If you don’t know what the true Light is, you will fall for a counterfeit.

You will call it revelation.
You will call it insight.
You will even call it “deep.”

But it didn’t come from the text.

The Problem With Imagination

The Bible is not unclear about imagination.

“The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21).
“Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

That’s not poetic language.
That’s a diagnosis—your imagination is not a safe interpreter of Scripture.

That’s why Paul said to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Imagination does not reveal truth. It often resists it. And when imagination replaces proper interpretation, you don’t get revelation—you get subtle deception.

Line Upon Line—Let the Bible Speak

God never intended for His Word to be guessed or forced to fit where it doesn’t belong.

“Whom shall he teach knowledge?… them that are weaned… For precept must be upon precept… line upon line… here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9–10).

That means God has established a process where Scripture builds on Scripture.

Not personality.
Not performance.
Not preference.

Truth is discovered when you stay in the text long enough for it to speak.

Take This as a Plea or a Warning—It’s Your Choice

This is not about criticizing preachers. This is about protecting people. Because sheep desperately need truth.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

So read the text. Become familiar with the voice of God. Slow down. Stay in context. Let Scripture interpret Scripture.

If it’s not in the text—don’t preach it.
Even if others do, don’t believe it.