In the process of writing an upcoming article "100 Proofs of the Deity of Christ: Part 1/10", I made a mess that I think can be turned into a message. Usually, before publishing an article, it will be proofread at least once. Sometimes, as a result, I change the way in which I write something, but mainly, I'm checking for errors. Some errors, however, slip through the cracks, because they don't actually look like errors. For example, sometimes, I'll have what's called a "brain fart" and switch out the correct word for a completely different one. A great example is the meme in the header image, in which I accidentally substituted the word "rest" for "wrath".
Unlike articles, memes go through several checks. First, I make the meme on my phone. Then, I check it to make sure it actually looks ok. Is it readable? Did I spell anything wrong? Does the background distract from the text (or is it too plain)? Things like that. Once that all checks out, I send it to my alternate Facebook account, as that's my fastest way to transfer it from my phone to my laptop. I save the image to my laptop, upload the image to Wix, then finally, it gets put into the article. During the process of writing the article, especially if it's a big one like the 100 proofs series, I'll proofread the same section multiple times, which of course includes making sure the memes still fit in well. This particular meme went through all of those checks, and yet, only on the last one did I spot, and correct, the error.
The application is twofold. First, it highlights the difference between reading and studying. Reading is fairly easy. But there were no errors in the meme in that regard. Grammatically, it made sense. There were no typos, spelling errors, or punctuation mistakes. A proofreading bot like Grammarly, or even a human proofreader, would not have picked up the error. Unless they know the content. Someone who studies the Bible will pick up on errors that someone who merely reads the Bible will not. Practical application 1, therefore, is that simply reading the Bible is not enough. Study it in as great a depth as you are able. One who studies the Bible, and only manages to read it once, will be better equipped than someone who merely reads it, even if they do so hundreds of times over.
Second, the errors that are the hardest to spot are the ones that look like the truth. This has been Satan's strategy from the very beginning. He tells the truth, but twists it just enough to steer you wrong. This particular mistake is a great example. To enter God's rest literally means to receive salvation, whereas to enter His wrath would of course be Hell, or its typological equivalent (in this case, dying in the wilderness). So the brain fart is literally the difference between life and death. And that, my brethren, is exactly what Satan wants for us. He doesn't want us to enter into God's rest, but for Him to swear in His wrath "they shall not enter my rest". For Satan, every Christian is a failure, and every impenitent sinner in Hell is the greatest of success.
But the absolute best way for him to achieve the latter is to fake the former. If he can convince a man that he is saved, when in reality he is heading for eternal damnation, that man will never see the need to change course. This is why Paul tells us "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Corinthians 13:5). How do we do this? By the word of God. "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 2:5). Not merely reading it, as anyone can do that. The faithful read the word. The heretic reads the word. The apostate reads the word. Even the unbeliever reads the word. But when the love of God rests in our hearts, we seek the word as food and drink. It is our fortress that shall not be shaken. Our sword and shield when we enter the battlefield. The Bible is how we filter out the devil's lies, and know the truth of God.