In a world marked by chaos, sex trafficking, gender confusion, corruption in high places, and calls to eliminate God from society, the search for solutions becomes paramount. Is the Bible a reliable source for life's answers, and can we trust its teachings amidst these challenges?
In the bustling marketplace, the self-help book industry projects a staggering $14.0 billion in revenue by 2025 (Wordsrated.com/Self-Help Books Statistics). These books glitter with promises of overcoming challenges, boosting self-esteem, and finding purpose. However, amid these temporal offerings, a timeless manual for life exists. Unlike the fleeting trends of the self-help industry, the Bible, authored by the Master Designer, God, stands ready to transform, provide direction, and reveal enduring wisdom.
The Bible, with 5-7 billion copies sold, holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling book of all time (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction). Its enduring popularity affirms the presence of life within its pages. While critics dispute its truth, the Bible remains eternally valid, revealing God’s love and redemption as it infuses believers with its life-changing and timeless accuracy.
The Bible is credible and reliable.
Every verse and chapter points beyond itself to its Architect and Author, upholding the absolute authority of God written within.
God spoke through prophets and apostles to write down God’s mind on paper. In the Old Testament, God is often quoted as saying, “And the Lord said.” Moses, the law-giver, David the Psalmist, and the prophetic voices of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets documented their visions and revelations from God.
The New Testament abounds with accounts from "eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). In elucidating the role of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle and eyewitness Peter asserts, "Prophecy never had its origin in the human will; rather, prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
In both Testaments, Jesus referred to Scripture as “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).
These divinely inspired words are anchored in eternity. Jesus affirmed, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
The Bible is trustworthy, authoritative, and dependable.
The Bible is the revelation of God.
God is disclosed through the Bible. While the world may question the relevance of the Scriptures, they serve as the key to understanding His love, majesty, holiness, and power. The Bible unfolds the plan of salvation and the concept of heaven. Genesis to Revelation reveals and unveils God’s nature and the path of redemption.
God reigns with an almighty power, unmatched and sovereign, casting a majestic brilliance that is both glorious and splendid. His justice, anchored in righteousness and fairness, upholds an impartial and upright order. Yet, within this powerful and just sovereignty, His love flows with a tender and merciful compassion, weaving a tapestry of grace and unconditional love that defines His being.
God’s gracious love is manifested through Jesus. ”For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Additionally, the promised Holy Spirit resides within each believer (John 14:17).
How would we comprehend God without His revelation in the Bible? Billy Graham says, “God caused the Book to be written that He might make His everlasting laws clear to His children and that they might have His great wisdom to guide them, and His great love to comfort them as they make their way through life” (https://billygraham.org/devotion/why-we-have-the-bible/).
God’s revelation through Scripture unlocks the path to heaven and serves as the textbook for abundant living
The Bible unveils God’s divine duality: justice and love.
Reading the entire Bible for the first time was a life-changing experience for me. Although familiar with the stories and key verses, reading Genesis through Revelation revealed a remarkable insight into the balance between God's justice in the Old Testament and His love in the New Testament.
God’s love and justice are inseparable from His nature. On one side, the problem persists as God's moral laws are violated, leading to the outpouring of His wrath. The world’s culture dismisses the truth of God’s justice in judging sin, opting instead for a selective emphasis on His “love,” which is misguidedly associated with concepts like sexual freedom, gender identity, and unrestrained behaviors. It's essential to recognize that God designed sexuality and marriage.
Scripture tells us purity is essential. “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:30).
Disobedience to His commands will not go unpunished. The caution from Romans 6:23, stating that "the wages of sin is death," serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and rejecting God's offered gift. However, the verse also highlights the gracious alternative: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." God's love provides forgiveness and liberation from sin's penalty through Jesus's sacrifice.
The story of the woman caught in adultery reveals the work of God’s forgiveness. The condemning crowd, armed with stones, sought to execute judgment, but Jesus intervened, forgiving her sin. Romans 5:8 beautifully captures this truth: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!"
Our love for God is evident when we live to please Him:“ If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15, 1 John 4:3).
The Bible is alive and active.
Numerous self-help books offer valuable insights for enhancing our lives, yet none compare to the transformative power of God's Word. This message gives “life to our mortal bodies and fills us with God’s Spirit” (Romans 8:11).
God's dynamic Word is uniquely relevant. It invades our thoughts, captures our attention, and convicts us of sin, initiating a life-changing process. Hebrews aptly describes its impact: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
With many encouraging and uplifting books, none can match the profound life transformation of “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The Scriptures, alive with the breath of God, stand unparalleled in their ability to convict of sin, call to repentance, cleanse, forgive, and make a new creation in Christ.
The Bible speaks ageless truth.
God’s truth is everlasting. A.W. Tozer said, “The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind.” The Ten Commandments, laws, and eternal words stand as God’s truth, contrasting with the shifting perspectives of the world. Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6), prayed for His disciples and for all who would follow Him, "Sanctify them through your truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17).
God's enduring moral principles, such as the Ten Commandments in Exodus, are universally relevant—“You shall not murder” and “you shall not steal” endure across cultures and history. The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) illustrates timeless themes of repentance, forgiveness, and unwavering parental love, reflecting universal human experiences. The struggle with temptation, wrongdoing, and the potential for redemption through grace and forgiveness is seen as timeless. Jesus affirmed the enduring nature of His words: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Eternal truths persist, remaining relevant and invaluable.
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The Bible transforms and gives life.
While pastoring in Northern Minnesota, a young couple whose wife was dealing with mental issues was placed in a mental institution, leaving her husband to care for their two preschoolers. A projected long-term stay was remarkably cut short as she began reading her Bible daily. She was released, healed, and restored to her family within six weeks.
The power of God's Word is profound. It reshapes the mind and heart, liberates from guilt, conquers negative habits, points out troubling attitudes, and heals emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It’s the best ‘self-help’ Book available! When we apply it, new life blossoms into the likeness of Jesus.
At the tender age of four, I recall hurrying down the aisle of a humble storefront church to invite Jesus into my heart. Despite my limited understanding, I was drawn through the preaching of the Word. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve made several recommitments to Jesus. Reading, listening, and applying God’s Word as the life-changing agent alters life like no other.
God’s Word is relevant today.
God’s word is relevant and rooted in credibility; it bears witness through eyewitness accounts and writers divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. Scripture unfolds the narrative of the Almighty God, the creator of all things, whose love is enduring and eternal. Our Bibles serve to make known ageless truths, guiding us to live in harmony with God and others. Its message is dynamic and vibrant as it is transformational.
Martin Luther said it beautifully, "The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me."
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