March 2014
When I talk to people, whether they are Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, atheists, or whatever, I always hear the statement: “Who wrote the Bible? Those were humans beings!” Of course, human beings wrote the Bible: apostles and prophets of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is a unique book and has changed the lives of millions of people. So many drug addicts and alcoholics, people suffering from depression, ruined, desperate people have received comfort and answers by reading the Bible; they have been convinced to change their lives and have found a foundation for their lives.
The Bible consists of 66 books and is divided into two parts: the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament starts with Genesis, the birth of the universe, and deals with the fall of man from God and with the calling and choosing of the nation Israel. In short, you can say that it’s God’s story with Israel and the prophecy about Jesus!
The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus as a human being, includes the birth of the church of Jesus and ends with the end of the world and the new start with Jesus Christ’s return. The Bible was written by 40 different people, but from A to Z, it’s written as if from one hand. Why? Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The authors were prophets, shepherds, doctors (Luke), fishermen, etc. They lived in different times, but they write so much in the same lines as if they had known each other. Sometimes people tell me that the Bible must certainly have changed a great deal throughout the centuries by being written in so many languages. When I ask them what exactly changed, then they can’t answer; they don’t know. Why? Because this lie has simply been passed on from generation to generation. I once read the New Testament in different languages and translations, but there was hardly a difference and if so, those were unimportant things.
Most people don’t want to read the Bible; we have TV and so many distractions. You find enough excuses not to read Scripture. It says in 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I began reading the Bible with this thought in mind: God, this is your Word, whether I understand it or not, whether I like it or not, I accept it as your Word. That’s how God began to give me answers to the many questions and revelations I had.
Start to read the Bible without prejudice. If you don’t understand something, then leave it on the side. When you eat fish, you don’t eat the bones, either. The more you read the Bible, the more you will understand it; it will change your life and give you a life foundation.
The Bible ends with a warning in Revelation 22:19: “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” God puts a curse on everyone who wants to change His Words in Revelation. So how much more does He watch over His entire Scripture!
I read a lovely story which I want to pass on. A lady at a market stand always read the Bible when there weren’t any customers waiting. One customer asked her why she believed that it was God’s Word. She looked to the sky and pointed to the sun. She said: “Sir, can you prove to me that that’s the sun?” He replied: “Prove it to you? That’s pretty easy! The best proof is that it gives me warmth and light.” “Exactly. That’s it!” she said. “The proof that my book is truly the Bible is that it gives me inner light and warmth!”
Pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and to let you recognize the unique character of the Bible.
Catherine