Can’t Make This Up! Part One

Fiction writers are incredibly creative. They use their imagination to create fantasy worlds that don’t exist. Some are based in the future, others in history, and some have present-day plots. They all include characters we ride along with through their experiences to vicariously explore our own thoughts and emotions – from a distance. As their story enters our minds, we escape into a different world with them through words. It’s amazing when we stop to think about it!

There’s one book you may not have read cover-to-cover that’s unlike any other. In fact, you probably have a copy in your home (or available online) right now. It’s the best-selling book of all time. A non-fiction book that’s also a love letter to you. The plot is true and you’re a part of it. It’s all about your life now – and your future destiny. The Author wrote it so you could know Him personally. He’s filled it with truth and wisdom and promises and stories that have to be read to be believed! When you do, your soul and spirit will recognize that this is no ordinary book. It’s the written Word of God: the Holy Bible.

I remember many years ago, when I followed a 365-day, read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan for the first time, I made the choice to stick with it. If I skipped a day, I made up for it. If I had a question, I used a commentary or found study notes to help me find the accurate meaning. If there were some “dry” chapters of genealogies or laws in the Old Testament, I figured they were there for a reason and read every word. Even though I had grown up in the church, became a Christian at age four, went to two years of college as a Bible and Theology major before going to University, this was beyond anything I had experienced. As I read the last verse of the last book, Revelation, it left me almost breathless. I finally saw the big picture and knew I had experienced what the Bible says it is: the Living Word of God.

Would you do this and read the entire Holy Bible before making up your mind about whether it’s actually true? 

If you read all sorts of other books and materials, from bestsellers to trashy novels to textbooks and magazines, but come to a hard stop when you think about reading the Bible, doesn’t that in itself create a question? What’s the true reason? Any of these?

• It’s too hard to understand.
• I don’t agree with what it says.
• It’s too old to be relevant today.
• It’s a bunch of made up fables.
• I don’t believe God or Jesus are real, so why would I want to read about them?

These are some classic responses that leave the Bible on the shelf to collect dust. Let’s think about this from a different angle and imagine that the Bible is truly what it claims to be: the Word of God. That it does contain the key to your eternal life. That it gives you supernatural wisdom, blessings, promises, answers, purpose for your life, and strength that no other source can give you. Would that change your mind about its importance enough to drop any excuses and read it – for yourself? Or think about it this way, if you were given the answers you’re looking for, would your stubbornness win and you’d walk away and reject them?

Let’s read some verses from the Holy Bible that make claims about why it’s worthy of our trust:

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT): “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong, and teaches us to do what is right.”

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT): “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest, two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Romans 15:4 (NLT): “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

John 6:63-64 (NLT), Jesus is speaking: “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me. (For Jesus knew from the beginning, which ones didn’t believe, and He knew who would betray Him).”

Romans 10:17 (NLT): “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

John 1:1 (NIV): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

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At the beginning of this ThinkSpace, we thought about how a fiction writer can take us on a journey with words, but they’re only fiction. Or, if a human book author claimed what he or she wrote were facts, we would decide for ourselves, based on their integrity. 

The words in Scripture are more than words written by a human. They make the clear and extraordinary claim to be from God Himself and His Son Jesus Christ. 

There’s much more to learn about this one-and-only book in Part Two. Real people, real history proven by archaeology, real prophecy, fascinating details, and much more. All part of the greatest true story ever told!

RESET HIGHER: Right now, today, do you trust the Author of not only a book, but the Author of life itself? Will you open your heart and soul a bit wider and explore what He has to say in His love letter for you? There is infinitely more for you to gain when you give your life to Him. It’s what He did for me – He can do it for you too!