Is God’s Word Important?
I recently heard Nard talk about the day he flew into his home village in the Philippines, ferrying cases of newly published Bibles to his own people.
Airplanes are rare in Nard’s home, so when he landed, people came running. He was busy with the plane, unloading the cargo, so he didn’t look up right away. Nard heard a woman’s voice, and recognized the voice of his sister.
He glanced up, smiled and noticed that his sister had picked up a carton of Bibles that he had unloaded. She was balancing them on her head – the easy way to carry a heavy load.
Nard asked her, “Do you know what you are carrying?”
“No” she replied.
Those are the new Bibles that were just published in our own language.
Nard’s sister carefully took the box off her head and hugged it to her chest. It was the first time God’s Word had ever been published in their language – the first time she had ever touched a copy.
It is through the Word that God has revealed himself to us over history. We see God in action in the lives of people. We know and understand who he is.
Without God’s Word, our understanding of who God is based solely on our own experience. Remember the opening of the book of Hebrews, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” He spoke to us for a reason – to guide us to himself.
Reread John 20:24-31:
One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
Books have been written on this topic. And while those books are helpful to convince me, it is actually reading that Word for myself that changed my life. In late high school days I got a version of the Bible that I could easily read and understand. I devoured it. It changed my life.
Have you ever had those thoughts of, “You can’t do that.” “They don’t like you.” “Give up!” What makes us believe those words? Where did they come from? Are they true?
I try hard to compare those words to the words I hear from God – the words God had written for us. Often I find that God’s perspective is different. And when I adopt His perspective, I experience freedom, power, and hope.
Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” John said of Jesus, “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.”
God’s own words, recorded for us – to draw us to Jesus so that we can become the children of God, with all the rights and privileges thereunto.
That is life changing. That can change a world. It does, when people can read it.