2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In my 100 level in the university, I stayed in a room where cockraoches were our visiting roommates. I had a pot of vegetable in my cupboard. One fateful evening, I returned to my hostel room enthusiastically while it was dark. Those days, it was not common in boys hostel to see someone with a pot of stew. That night, I did not bother to get a lamp because I knew my way around the room. I headed for my pot of vegetable in the cupboard. I decided to have a taste of my delicious vegetable. As the vegetable landed in my mouth, I felt a meaty substance in my mouth. It occurred to me immediately that there was no meat or fish in my vegetable soup when it was cooked so I didn't swallow what was in my mouth. I got a light source to check what was in my mouth and in my pot. To my chagrin, I saw big cockroaches in my pot and one in my mouth. I just didn't like myself for some time because I felt stupid for my action.
The Cockroach can be symbolic of error and heresies while the light represents the word of God. Before you swallow teachings and the many doctrines flying around in the name of teaching, please use the lamp to check if it is worth swallowing. The bible told us about the nobility of Berean Christians: "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth"(Acts17:11 NLT). I love the Berean Christians. They respected Paul but not to the extent of allowing him to feed them with lies. They checked all he taught to see if they aligned correctly.
Hey brother! Don't eat that cockroach of error. Certain things may sound good but it may not be the gospel truth. Many teachers have gone into the world today teaching damnable heresies. Before you swallow that teaching, get the light of God's word to check that pot of teaching. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"(Psalms119:105). As you grow in God, you'll discover that it is not every teaching, program, conference and camp meeting that is good for your spiritual health. God is not hiding his ways and principles from us, they are plainly written in the bible for all his children to read. Get close to your bible, study it for yourself and lay hold on the truth. Do not eat that cockroach, check the pot with the light source.
Father, I receive grace to search the scriptures daily in the name of Jesus. Amen