What's Good About The Good Book?
What’s good about the Good Book? For decades the Bible has been called that… the Good Book. People who don’t follow it or believe it at least appear to respect it. Courts have witnesses swear over one and new presidents are sworn in with their hands upon one, and what home does not have at least one. It’s the best selling book ever, with an estimated 2.5 billion sold since 1815, and the first book to be printed with moveable type. But, what’s good about it?
Recently we have seen what appears to be an orchestrated effort to discredit the Bible. Proponents would have us believe that there is little believable in it and not much good about it. The fictional novel, The Da Vinci Code, has been at the forefront of that attack with its fictitious authority leveling barrage after barrage of accusations against the Bible’s authenticity. Notice I said fictitious authority because the book is fiction and does not purport to be an authentic evaluation of scripture. It is, however, being received by many as believable and is resulting in some people questioning the faith. In similar words, they are asking, “What’s good about the Good Book?”
Well, we could go to great extremes to prove the credibility and reliability of the Bible, and no doubt we should. Jude said that the church must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3) But, it strikes me as both impressive and comforting that the Bible has always endured the years and the innumerable attacks leveled against it. Skeptics are not new, and the spirit of Antichirst has been in the world for at least 2000 years. If I correctly interpret biblical prophecy, things are only going to get worse before they get better. Yet, truth endures because it is truth, and it can only be hidden, never destroyed. The critics of the Bible will offer their contrived and often counterfeit attacks, but Jesus promised, “God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.” (Matthew 5:18, MSG)
What’s good about the Good Book? It’s sharper than a double edged sword, it’s a light for the paths we walk, water that keeps us clean, source of the faith we need, and a foundation that never moves or changes. And, it’s more! For the martyrs, it was hope for the future, for the Reformers it was truth that led to real salvation, to the evangelists it has always been the word we preach, and for me, it was a word from God that came just this morning! It’s as fresh as the daily newspaper, as relevant as a book of instructions, and as practical as a prescription from your family doctor. It’s good because it’s from God, and He’s always good!
So, the attacks will continue, and the church will muster its forces; but, whether we are preparing for battle or on the battlefield, let’s never forget that it is God’s Word in us that empowers us. In the final analysis, the best defense of scripture is to read it!
Recently we have seen what appears to be an orchestrated effort to discredit the Bible. Proponents would have us believe that there is little believable in it and not much good about it. The fictional novel, The Da Vinci Code, has been at the forefront of that attack with its fictitious authority leveling barrage after barrage of accusations against the Bible’s authenticity. Notice I said fictitious authority because the book is fiction and does not purport to be an authentic evaluation of scripture. It is, however, being received by many as believable and is resulting in some people questioning the faith. In similar words, they are asking, “What’s good about the Good Book?”
Well, we could go to great extremes to prove the credibility and reliability of the Bible, and no doubt we should. Jude said that the church must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3) But, it strikes me as both impressive and comforting that the Bible has always endured the years and the innumerable attacks leveled against it. Skeptics are not new, and the spirit of Antichirst has been in the world for at least 2000 years. If I correctly interpret biblical prophecy, things are only going to get worse before they get better. Yet, truth endures because it is truth, and it can only be hidden, never destroyed. The critics of the Bible will offer their contrived and often counterfeit attacks, but Jesus promised, “God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.” (Matthew 5:18, MSG)
What’s good about the Good Book? It’s sharper than a double edged sword, it’s a light for the paths we walk, water that keeps us clean, source of the faith we need, and a foundation that never moves or changes. And, it’s more! For the martyrs, it was hope for the future, for the Reformers it was truth that led to real salvation, to the evangelists it has always been the word we preach, and for me, it was a word from God that came just this morning! It’s as fresh as the daily newspaper, as relevant as a book of instructions, and as practical as a prescription from your family doctor. It’s good because it’s from God, and He’s always good!
So, the attacks will continue, and the church will muster its forces; but, whether we are preparing for battle or on the battlefield, let’s never forget that it is God’s Word in us that empowers us. In the final analysis, the best defense of scripture is to read it!
1 Comments:
Thanks Pastor Tim, for the encouraging words. The forces arrayed around us are many. May the reading of the Word tranform us; therefore renewing our minds; making us fruitful doers of His Word; leading to preserverence and a joyous anticipated entrance into Heaven. Jude 17-25. May God richly bless and His Church.
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