Why do we believe what we believe? It is important for each of us to ask that question. Why do we believe what we believe? For me the answer to that question is rooted in my belief in God, but it goes even further than that. I believe what I believe because I believe the Bible. God gave man a series of books. Today we call those books the Bible.
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Understanding how we ended up with the Bible can help us to have a greater confidence in the inspired Word of God. Many have heard the phrase “inspired word of God” without really knowing what it means. The Bible itself claims to be inspired, but that claim has little significance if a person does not know what it means. Webster tells us that inspire means “to breathe; to infuse by or as if by breathing; to instill; to communicate divine instructions to the mind of.” This is why Scripture is often referred to as God breathed or as coming directly from the mouth of God. Remember the holy words of the Bible are not just ordinary words, but the words of God.
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If these divine words came directly from the mouth of God, how did they get to the pages of the Bible? Let us allow God to answer that Himself through His word:
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“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps 68:11.
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“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21.
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“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:” Isaiah 30:8.
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In the above verses, the Psalmist tells us that the words came from the Lord. Peter wrote about how the Holy Spirit of God gave the words to those who He wanted to deliver His message. Isaiah tells us how He was specifically commanded to write down the words that were spoken to him. These were not just ordinary words, they were the words of Scripture given by God. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning these words from God:
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“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” II Tim 3:16.
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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That means every verse of the Bible came from God. Each jot and tittle was written by His intent. Yes, He used men like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, yet as Isaiah testifies, God told them what to write. These men were moved by God. The Bible is not a bunch of ideas made up by these men. These men were guided specifically by a Holy God to write a message down so that we might know what God has for us to learn.
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We must guard against the idea that certain parts of the Bible are reliable and other parts are not. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If we pick and choose what we want to believe, we can make it look like it says whatever we want it to say. That is why it is so important to read it in context. Sometimes folks will try tell us that the Bible has things in it that are not “Christian”. Before you get upset at your Bible, read it and find out if they are taking a verse out of context. It is God’s word, let us make sure God is not taken out of context.
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Jesus Christ Himself testified to the importance of the Word of God: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The Proverbs also testify of God’s Word: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6.
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These last few verses are not only a continued testimony of the importance of Scripture, but as well a testimony that it comes from God. There are also many verses throughout the Bible that have phrases like “thus saith the Lord” or “hear ye the word of the Lord”. The Bible claims to be God’s word, and thus is worthy of the title “The Word of God. That is why I believe it, and that is why it is to guide all that I believe.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Truth Like No Other
I was recently made aware of an article where patrons were able to write in and give their experiences with customer service at various retail store chains. Some of the experiences were heart warming as store employees went beyond the call of duty to help their customers. It was interesting to note, however, that one of the store chains to receive a complaint, was called “Friendly’s”. Now I have never even heard of such a store and do not know if this was an isolated incident or not, but I found it interesting that a store with a friendly name had unfriendly customer service.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
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The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
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Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
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These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
-
The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
-
Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
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These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Burrr Cold
You know it is cold when the gas meter locks up. Wednesday January 14, 2009 was a very cold day. If the cold itself were not bad enough, the wind chill was life threatening. Of all days for a furnace to quit. God gets your attention when He allows it to happen on such a day. What made the problem really serious was that ALL the furnaces in the church, not just one of them had quit. Not only the furnaces, but the gas water heater as well. Fortunately the problem was discovered before the temperature inside dropped enough to freeze any pipes. The gas company sent a man out to fix the problem and we had heat again within a few hours.
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Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
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Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
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No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
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This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
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Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
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So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
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He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
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What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
-
Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
-
Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
-
No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
-
This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
-
Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
-
The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
-
So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
-
He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
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What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
Friday, January 2, 2009
I Don't Trust the Ice
Is there a difference between a coward and a cautious chicken? I hope so, because when it comes to ice covered lakes, I fall into the latter category. I have driven onto the lakes during the winter, but only after extended period of VERY cold weather and numerous reports of VERY thick ice. Even when the ice is over a foot thick, there is something unnerving about sitting in a fish house and hearing the cracks and rumbles as other vehicles drive over a bridge of ice that is only kept in tact by the freezing temperatures.
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One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
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He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
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Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
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You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
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I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
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The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
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Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
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As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
-
One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
-
He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
-
Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
-
You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
-
I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
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The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
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Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
-
As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
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